PCA pushes for 5% biodiesel blend to boost coconut oil

In the Philippines, the Philippine Coconut Authority is calling on the National Biofuels Board to raise to five percent the Coco Methyl Ester content of biodiesel currently sold in the domestic market. The present blend of biodiesel now in the country consists only of two percent CME and 98 percent regular diesel.

“The increase could effectively support our coconut farmers and farmworkers whose livelihoods are threatened by the declining prices of crude coconut oil (CNO) in the international market,” said Romulo J. de la Rosa, PCA Administrator.

The price of CNO has declined by over 40 percent in the last few months because of a glut in supply in the world market of vegetable oils. From a high of US$ 1,850 per ton, it was selling at its 16-month low of US$ 1,100 per ton last week. The weakening copra and CNO world prices could further reduce the already low income of coconut farmers and farmworkers in the country.