Content page no.

Coconut oil brands in UAE 01 - 08

Parachute secrets for Arab world 09 - 11
Parachute exports from India to UAE 12 - 17
Doctors slam Mohanlals cholesterol-free oil 18 - 22
Source to enter Arab world 21 - 25
Understanding the Arab customers 26 - 28
Govt lifts restrictions on coconut oil exports 29
The UAE's first direct supermarket
price comparison 30
















Coconut oil brands in UAE

1. Hemani general trading

Business type- manufacturer, trading company, distributor, wholesaler
Main products- herbal teas, herbal oils
Location- Dubai, united Arab Emirates



3. CBC COCONUT OIL 1 LTR


price- 15.25 AED Qty- 1L
price 10.25 Qty- 680 grms
3. KLF Nirmal

Products- Nirmal Virgin Coconut Oil, Nirmal Jasmine Coconut Oil, KLF
Coconad Coconut Milk Powder and KLF Coconad Coconut Cooking oil.
Location- P.O. Box 3262
Ras Al Khor
Dubai
United Arab Emirates


Source- http://www.gulfood.com/Exhibitor/KLF-Nirmal-Industries

4. efa gold coconut oil



5. viva virgin coconut oil



6. palmers coconut oil



7. cococare coconut oil






8. parachute jasmine coconut oil



9. coconut oil gardenia


10. Monoi Tiare Tahiti (coconut oil w/ Gardenia) 4 Oun..







11. tropic isle living coconut black castor oil hair food


12. Nutribiotic Pure Coconut Oil Soap Unscented 32 Oz.


13. Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 15 Ounce


14. Nutribiotic Pure Coconut Oil Soap Unscented 8 Oz.

13. Oilypure Oil Hair Serum - 2 0z Elixir Uniquely For..


14. Coconut Sun Tanning Oil


15. Coconut Oil Vanilla, 4 fl oz


16. kmes hair wax

17. cococare coconut oil


18. dabur vatika enriched coconut hair oil


19. palmer coconut oil


20. shea moisture coconut
source- souq.com

New natural Parachute Secrets for healthier hair launched
in the Arab world
October 26, 2011 at 4:40am
Secret combination of natural extracts nourishes hair from root to tip
Promotes healthy hair with just ten days of use
Available in four variants as oil or Hammam Zeit to suit different needs

Parachute, the worlds largest packaged coconut oil brand produced by
Marico, a leading consumer products and services company, has
introduced to the Arab world its sensational new product Parachute
Secrets that promotes healthier hair.

Produced from a combination of natural extracts, Parachute Secrets
nourishes hair from root to tip, and has proved its efficiency with ten days
of usage. After extensive research and feedback from consumer groups,
Marico has launched the product across the Arab world including the GCC
region and Levant, providing Arab women a healthy choice in hair care.

Ayman Hamed, Head of Marketing, Marico Middle East, said: Managing
healthy hair, given the harsh weather conditions and the hard water that
exists in parts of the region, has always been a challenge for Arab women.
With their preference for healthy hair, Arab women now have a perfect
solution that fits their needs the new Parachute Secrets.

He added: Arab women have traditionally relied on home-made
concoctions mixing a number of natural extracts. With Parachute Secrets
they can be assured of healthy hair through its mix of nourishing natural
extracts. It is also presented in four variants inspired by the traditional
mixture used by Arab women, as oil or Hammam Zeit, each designed for
different needs where coconut oil serves as the carrier for all natural
ingredients.

With proven capability to reduce hair loss by as much as five times,
Parachute Secrets Hair Fall Control will assist users in strengthening their
hair and provide protection against external factors. It is formed of a
combination of coconut oil and watercress, and garlic and aloe vera
extracts.

Parachute Secrets Weak Hair Repair boosts the hair and provides
protection against external factors while also making hair five times
stronger. Its ingredients include coconut and castor oils and extract of
black seed and sedr plant.

Blending the goodness of coconut and jojoba oils, and honey and cactus
extracts Parachute Secrets Damaged Hair Repair is a natural hair oil that
nourishes hair from root to tip and contributes to strengthening hair,
providing protection against protein loss and reduces split-ends by twice.

Assuring 120% more visible shine to the hair right from the first
application, Parachute Secrets Dry Hair Repair is infused with coconut,
sesame and olive oils as well as almond extract. It helps in moisturizing
and hydrating dry, rough hair, by locking moisture and protein into the
hair shaft and reducing protein loss.

Parachute coconut oil stands for purity and quality. Over the years, the
brand has introduced several innovations in packaging, sizing and tamper-
proofing. Parachute enjoys enormous loyalty in urban, semi-urban and
rural sectors, across all its key markets.

Parachute Secrets is made from highly nourishing natural ingredients and
coconut oil for solving hair problems. Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft
and provides thrice the nourishment for the hair. It penetrates deep into
the hair ensuring ultimate nourishment from roots to tips.



About Marico:
Marico is a leading Indian group established in 1948 to provide consumer
products and services in the area of health and beauty. Based in Mumbai,
the company is the second largest Indian exporter of branded FMCG and
has witnessed a rapid growth in the past 58 years, which is attributed to its
product innovations to cater to the specific need of its consumers.
Marico's own manufacturing facilities are located at Goa, Kanjikode,
Jalgaon, Pondicherry, Dehradun, Baddi, Paonta Sahib and Daman. Marico
has oversees several manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh, Vietnam,
Malaysia, South Africa and Egypt. Its operations reach consumers in over
50 countries around the world serving over 2 billion people.
Active in the Gulf region since 1996, Maricos flagship brand is Parachute -
a popular line of edible coconut-oil based hair products. Parachute is
considered the worlds largest packaged coconut oil brand with 70 million
packs sold every month. The hair product is a very good resource of
nourishment for hair in which the goodness of coconut has been used to
provide excellent hair care solutions. For more information, log on
to www.marico.com.

Source- https://www.facebook.com/notes/mother-baby-child-
magazine/new-natural-parachute-secrets-for-healthier-hair-launched-in-
the-arab-world/278607842171335
Coconut Oil Export from India to United Arab Emirates
InfodriveIndia.com

InfodriveIndia provides latest Coconut Oil Export from India to United
Arab Emirates and statistics from actual shipment data from Indian
Customs. InfodriveIndia covers Coconut Oil Export from India to United
Arab Emirates shipments in 174+ ports in India and export data is
available with a backlog of just 3 days. We deliver data Online, by email
and by CD in Excel. Please contact us on below mentioned phone nos for a
free sample market research report on United Arab Emirates Exports from
India. Data post 2004 will be based on Customs Notification no 128/2004.

During 7-Sep-2014 to 7-Oct-2014, India exported coconut oil worth USD
632,358. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES is the largest supplier of coconut oil
accounting for imports worth USD 632,358

Cochin Sea accounted for 93% of Export followed by JNPT and Baroda
which account for 5% and 2% of imports respectively.

Average value per shipment of coconut oil exports in India is USD 632,358.








source- http://www.infodriveindia.com/india-export-data/coconut-oil-
export/fc-united_arab_emirates-report.aspx

Doctors slam Mohanlals cholesterol-free oil
His claims of cholesterol-free coconut oil not scientific, say medical
professionals
By
VM Sathish
Published Wednesday, May 01, 2013


A section of Indian doctors in the UAE have said they do not endorse a
much publicised endorsement of a coconut oil brand by the Malayalam
superstar Mohanlal.
Indian doctors at the All Kerala Medical Graduates Association (AKMG), a
group of doctors practising in the UAE, said they are perplexed by the
endorsement of a coconut brand by a superstar like Mohanlal, claiming
that coconut oil is totally free from cholesterol.
What Mohanlal publicises through the advertisement is not scientifically
proven and people may risk their health by blindly trusting a superstar
endorsement, according to them. Earlier endorsement of a leading liquor
brand by the superstar raked up controversy, similar to a celebrity brand
endorsement by KJ Yesudas for a property firm that cheated hundreds of
NRI investors.
Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7-10 per cent of
calorie-intake because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to
the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines, an Indian doctor said, quoting the
American Heart Association.
A number of radio stations, television channels and newspapers are
currently running an advertisement campaign for the new brand of
coconut oil, claiming that the oil processed using a new technology will not
cause heart disease or fat accumulated as spread by some foreign agents.
Mohanlal, one of the most popular Malayalam actors, acts as a Kerala King,
sending out a Royal Decree, endorsing the specific brand of coconut oil.
According to marketing experts, celebrities are roped in to sell anything
from gold ornaments to chit funds and financial products. The particular
brand of coconut oil is claimed to be 100 per cent pure made with finest
copra (dry coconut) pieces. Trans fats, saturated fats in coconut oils can be
harmful and cause heart attack, doctors said.
In the advertisement Mohanlal, dressed as a traditional king of Kerala, says
he is aware of a conspiracy hatched by foreign countries and is issuing a
decree endorsing the pure coconut oil, free from cholesterol. Doctors say it
is a highly misleading advertisement of Coconadu oil, because such claims
are not scientifically proved.
There are two basic categories of fats. Healthy fats are unsaturated and
include vegetable oils, fish oils, and plant fats in nuts, avocados, and seeds.
These fats should be the primary fats in your diet because they are either
neutral or raise HDL cholesterol [considered good cholesterol] but dont
raise LDL cholesterol [considered bad cholesterol].
The less healthy saturated fats found in animal fats and tropical oils,
including coconut oil, are allowed, but in lesser amounts because they raise
LDL cholesterol, says Dr Hanish Babu.
Trans fats in processed foods are the worst fats, capable of lowering HDL
and increasing LDL, and should be kept as low as possible. Eating a
nutritious diet that includes mostly whole foods and is balanced in calories
is more important that worrying about specific nutrients and foods.
Coconut oil is an essential fat, saturated fat that can cause problem for
heart by causing LDL cholesterol. Both coconut oil and palm oil can cause
more cholesterol and can cause heart attack, which is scientifically proven.
It is not misleading information spread by foreign countries, as Mohanlal
claims in the advertisement. It is a scientifically proven fact that saturated
fat can cause cholesterol, said Dr Babu, who was speaking in his personal
capacity.
He is also the Vice President of AKMG Emirates, but some officials in the
Association have a different opinion.
Dr Babu said Keralites are more prone to heart diseases than people from
many other Indian states due to many factors increased use of red meat,
egg and other fatty food items. About 7,000 tons of red meat is consumed
every day in Kerala and now people are not doing enough physical
exercise. High levels of stress, increased use of smoking and alcohol and
negative attitude are factors causing heart ailments. It is definitely a
misleading advertisement, Dr Babu told Emirates 24|7. There are
different opinions on this issue and it is not the view of the organisation, he
added.
According to studies, pure virgin coconut oil, containing no hydrogenation
(the process of adding hydrogen to make a liquid fat hard), contains 92 per
cent saturated fat the highest amount of saturated fat of any fat.
Most saturated fats are solid at room temperature, found in animal
products (such as meat, dairy, poultry with skin, and beef fat) and contain
cholesterol. Unlike animal fats, tropical oils palm, palm kernel, and
coconut oils are saturated fats that are called oils but depending on room
temperature can be solid, semi-solid, or liquid, and do not contain
cholesterol.
Like all fats, coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids. Coconut oil contains an
unusual blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, primarily lauric (44
per cent) and myristic (16.8 per cent) acids. It is this unusual composition
that may offer some health benefits, an Indian doctor said quoting
relevant studies.

Source- http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/doctors-slam-
mohanlal-s-cholesterol-free-oil-2013-05-01-1.504620


Source to enter Arab market


1 Al Rostamani Group Tel: 04-428-7777
Burj Dubai Square Bldg 2, Dubai, UAE Map
Business group with interests in automobiles, heavy vehicles, spare parts &
services, travel-related products, foreign exchange, real estate, land
development, products related to the building industry, infrastructure
development, telecom etc
Business Groups Telecommunications Construction Auto Dealers Distr
ibutors Logistics
2 Albwardy Investment Tel: 04-351-1333
Holding company for a group of companies in the areas of food,
distribution and logistics, industrial construction and engineering, leisure
and lifestyle; runs Spinneys Dubai LLC; Al Seer Trading Agencies;
Albwardy Shipping Agency etc
Business Groups Food Distributors Marine Equipment and Services Lo
gistics Warehousing Construction
3 Alphamed Group
Dubai-based sales, marketing and distribution company dealing in
consumer products, pharmaceuticals, sports goods, medical and laboratory
equipment, and environmental health products; also runs the Bin Sina
chain of pharmacies
Distributors Sports Equipment Medical Equipment Pharmaceuticals M
edical Stores
4 APTEC Online Tel: 04-369-7111
Wholesaler for computer and mobile phone products; vendors include:
3Com, 3M, Acer, APC, BenQ, Compaq, Computer Associates, Cyber Drive, D-
Link, Epson, Fujitsu Siemens, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Lotus, Microsoft,
Nokia, Novell, Philips, etc
Distributors Communication Products
5 Arabian American Technology -- Aramtec Tel: 04-289-5444
Company engaged in the import and distribution of consumer goods like
grocery, frozen foods, confectionery and non-foods; handles brands like
Pillsbury, Green Giant, Parmalat, Kafe, Cool Blue, Hiestand, Butterball,
Villars, Werther's etc
Distributors Food
6 Foodco Holding Tel: 02-673-1000 ABD: FOODCO
Holding company for Foodco Bahrain WLL, Sense Gourmet (operator of
Figaro's Pizza restaurants), Oasis National Foodstuff (manufacturing &
marketing of foodstuffs), Dana Plaza (a mall), etc
Food Distributors
7 Jashanmal National Company Tel: 04-266-6633
Company operating across the Middle East; operates a chain of seven
department stores; wholesale division is responsible for the distribution
and marketing of a number of major international brands
Retail Chains Distributors Bookshops
8 Lifco Group of Companies
Business group based in Sharjah; traders in food and allied services and
products; owns large warehouses and supermarkets in Sharjah, Dubai and
Abu Dhabi and a fleet of delivery trucks, refrigerated trucks, container
trucks, etc
Food Distributors Supermarkets
9 Maritime and Mercantile International LLC Tel: 04-424-5000
Company in Dubai engaged in: distribution of fast-moving consumer goods
in both food and non-food categories, logistics, providing travel services,
running Costa coffee outlets, Seasons restaurants etc; markets liquor
brands to hotels and clubs
Distributors Logistics Travel Companies Restaurants Business Facilitat
ors
10 Sara Trident Emirates LLC
Distributor of fast-moving consumer goods; services offered: research and
marketing planning, product registrations, advice on Arabic labelling,
logistics including supply chain planning etc
Distributors

11 Harman Middle East Tel: 04-887-3336
Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE Map
Large-scale sales, warehousing, & distribution organisation for speakers,
home theatre packages, & audio components; brands: JBL, Infinity, &
Harman Kardon; supplies products in 45 countries in the Middle East,
Africa, GCC etc; based in Dubai
Consumer Electronics Distributors Auto Accessories
12 Al Aqili Group Tel: 04-324-8000
Transnational conglomerate with operations across the UAE, GCC
countries, Iran and Iraq; activities: FMCG distribution and manufacturing,
mobile phone distribution and services, flooring and office furniture,
trading of petroleum products etc
Business Groups Distributors
13 Golden Falcon Chemicals, Ingredients & Specialities Tel: 04-227-4433
Al Makthoum Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE Map
Distributor of food & beverage, water & waste water treatment, metal
treatment, detergents, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning, pharmaceutical,
& packaging products; based in Dubai; a division of Golden Falcon General
Trading LLC
Distributors Food Cleaning Personal Care Products Chemicals
14 JK Sons Group Tel: 04-353-5365
Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE Map
Business group with interests in wholesale trading, retail, &
manufacturing; comprises Global Polymer Industrial LLC (makes & exports
plastic packaging), National Store LLC (sells consumer electronics), and
Gallery Food & Beverages LLC
Distributors Plastics Packaging Consumer Electronics Food
15 The National Trading & Developing Establishment -- NTDE Tel: 04-
2852-222
9th Street, Umm Ramool, Dubai, UAE Map
Dubai-based distributor of tobacco products, consumer products,
confectionery products, ice-cream and cafes and agricultural supplies; also
offers dry cleaning and laundry services and is involved in advertising and
publicity (Oxford Design)
Distributors Cleaning Advertising Firms
16 Tibo Company LLC Tel: 04-222-8780
Supplier of imported auto & industrial parts, batteries & chargers, solar &
alternative energy products, UPS systems, test equipment, chemicals &
MRO products, auto & industrial lighting etc to clients in the Middle East &
Africa; based in Dubai
Distributors Auto Spare Parts Chemicals
17 Abu Dhabi Maritime & Mercantile International Co. (ADMMI) Tel: 02-
446-2424
Company in Abu Dhabi that provide services such as warehousing and
distribution of consumer goods and liquor, product marketing, industrial
product supply and services installation, travel agency operations, HR
development etc
Distributors Warehousing Packaging HR Services Travel Companies
18 Al Kamda General Trading LLC Tel: 04-266-4200
ISO 9001:2000-certified firm supplying international brands of equipment
for construction, leisure (spas), fitness (gym), & sports (courts, flooring,
seating, running tracks) sectors, and architectural finishes; based in Dubai,
Abu Dhabi, & Doha
Distributors Sports Equipment
19 Al Seer Group (ASG)
Distributors of FMCG products based in Dubai; group companies include Al
Seer Trading Agencies, Fine Fair, Arabian Oasis Food Company, Agencies &
Trading Co, Al Seer Food Services, Al Seer Oman etc
Distributors Food Personal Care Products
20 Alokozay Group of Companies Tel: 04-887-1155
Dubai-based group engaged in the import and distribution of cigarettes,
tea, and similar FMCG products; group companies include Al Wali Trading
Company LLC, Alokozay General Trading LLC, Alokozay International Ltd &
Alokozay Tea International Ltd
Distributors
21 Arab Beverages Est Tel: 04-886-7288
Company engaged in the production and distribution of Capri-Sonne fruit
juice in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Yemen and
Lebanon; distributors of Alban milk powder, V energy drink, Biophar
honey & Active O2 in the UAE
Food Distributors
22 Emsons Tel: 02-673-1660
Distributor of branded food (Nezo, Chief), toys (4M), houseware (Tasha),
licenses (Disney Cycles, Disney Towels), hospitality, garments, & retail
products in the UAE; has many outlets in Abu Dhabi; offices: Abu Dhabi &
Dubai
Food Distributors Retail Chains Garments
23 Federal Foods Tel: 04-339-0005
Distributor in the foodstuff industry; handles frozen poultry and meats,
tinned foods, dairy products, confectionery, jams; based in Dubai; brands
handled include Sadia, Emborg, Whitworths, Tulip, Farm Frites, Amurol
Confections, Bunge Foods etc
Food Distributors
24 Gulf International (GI) Tel: 04-282-4824
Airport Road, Dubai, UAE Map
Firm importing & distributing FMCG products (brands: Johnsons, Lindt,
Bahlsen, Kraft, Henkel, Hero, P&G etc) in the UAE; has offices in Dubai, Abu
Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, & Fujairah; a member of Albatha
Consumer Group (ABCG)
Distributors Food Personal Care Products Cleaning
25 Jaleel Holdings Tel: 04-333-9191
18th Street, Central Fruit & Vegetable Market, Ras Al Khor Ind III, Dubai,
UAE Map
Business founded by M.V. Kunhumohamed in 1972 in Dubai, with branches
across the UAE; wholesale dealers of 5,000 products imported from India,
Italy etc; also runs J-Mart supermarkets, IT & packaging firms, Del Credere
agency etc
Business Groups Distributors Supermarkets Packaging
26 Pharmatrade Tel: 04-266-5134
Dubai-based distributor of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and
equipment; represents major international drug companies: Eli Lilly,
Rhone Poulenc Rorer, Whitehall Laboratories, Lederle Laboratories, Leo
Pharmaceuticals, Madaus AG, etc
Pharmaceuticals Medical Products Distributors




































Understanding the Arab Consumer
by Vijay Mahajan

The low-profile Arla Foods, Scandinavias largest manufacturer of dairy
products, had become a major player in the Arab world by 2005. The
Dano-Swedish cooperatives brands, such as Lurpak, Puck, and the
eponymous Arla, dominated the Middle Easts markets for butter,
cheese, and cream, and its sales in the region reached a record $550
million that year. Then the cartoons appeared.
On September 30, 2005, a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-
Posten, published an article titled The Face of Muhammad along with
a dozen cartoons that depicted Islams prophet unflatteringly. Muslims
the world over were incensed, and in January 2006 Saudi Arabian
clerics called for a boycott of Danish goods. Within days, most retailers
in the Arab world had pulled Arlas products off their shelves. The
company mounted a massive communications campaign to distance
itself from the cartoons, pointing out that it had been doing business in
the region for 40 years. But even though the clerics lifted the ban in
April, the companys sales for 2006 were only half the preboycott levels.
In 2008, just when Arlas sales had nearly recovered, 17 Danish
newspapers republished one of the controversial cartoons. Sales
plummeted again, costing the company around $274 million. Arla fought
back, but its revenues didnt rebound until 2010an indication of how
powerfully Islam affects Arab markets. In fact, its influence is much
stronger in the Arab world than it is in nations with large Muslim
populations such as Indonesia, India, and Bangladesh.
In the post-9/11 world, Islams resurgence has made multinationals
jittery about investing in the 22 countries that constitute the Arab
League. The Arab world, runs the stereotyped assumption, is a closed
society of mullahs and militants, fatwas and jihad, whose leaders hate
foreigners and whose young men and women are taught to despise
Western products and culture. Add the political turmoil and armed
conflicts of the Arab Spring revolutionswhich ousted rulers in Egypt,
Libya, Tunisia, and Yemenand its easy to conclude that the region is
unstable, chaotic, and closed for business.
Like many other notions about the Arab world, this one is a figment of
the imagination. From 2008 to 2010 I traveled through 18 Arab League
countries, visiting many markets and companies and speaking with
more than 600 peoplefrom CEOs and entrepreneurs in skyscrapers to
shoppers in souks and bazaars. Everything I saw and everyone I met
suggested that the Arab market is not divorced from the rest of the
world. Consumers there have the same demands as people
everywhere, and despite the turmoil the regions markets are growing,
globally interlinked, and intensely competitive.
If the Arab League were a single country, its 2011 GDP would have
been more than $2.3 trillion, making it the worlds eighth-largest
economybigger than India or Russia. Its per capita income would
have been around $6,700higher than that of China and India. (See
the exhibit Per Capita GDP in the Arab World.) More than half the
population is under 25 years of age, making it one of the worlds most
youthful markets.

Per Capita GDP in the Arab World

The regions draw is no longer solely the top of the economic pyramid. A
growing middle class of more than 150 million people (the total
population is over 350 million) is busy earning and spending. (See the
exhibit The Arab Middle Class.) Household consumption accounted for
as much as 44% of the regions economy, higher than Chinas 35% but
less than Indias 56%. No wonder Middle East expert Vali Nasr wrote in
his 2011 book, Forces of Fortune, All across the region, a whole new
economy is rising, mixing local values with surging consumption and
building ever richer ties to the global economy, and this trend is not only
every bit as powerful and important as the threat of fundamentalism, it is
more so.



Sources: Population data are from IMFs World Economic Outlook Database and World
Banks World Development Indicators database (accessed January 2013). Data for Sudan
do not include South Sudan. Population distributions are the authors estimates based on
socioeconomic data from several companies in the region. No data were available for
Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Somalia, and the Palestinian Territories.


Govt lifts restrictions on coconut oil exports

BS Reporter | Chennai/ Kochi
February 7, 2013 Last Updated at 00:14 IST


The Union government has allowed export of coconut oil through
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) ports. The Director General of
Foreign Trade (DGFT) had issued a notification in this regard on
Tuesday. Earlier, coconut oil export was allowed only through Cochin
port only. Now, it is permitted from all the 13 EDI ports and land
custom stations.

In October 2012, the DGFT had allowed export of branded edible oils up
to 5 kg packs with a ceiling of 20,000 tonne. Though the government
has now removed the ceiling, it insists that the branded pack must be
up to 5 kg. The minimum export price for such exports has been fixed
at $1500 a tonne.

Coconut farming and oil industry are reeling under a heavy fall in prices
due to slackness in demand, affecting 10 million small and marginal
farmers directly and an equal number of workers indirectly. Besides,
lack of movement in supplies and heavy influx of supply from states like
Tamil Nadu were having an adverse impact.

In view of this, the Coconut Development Board has conceived a three-
pronged strategy. The board found that the demand for coconut oil was
on the rise in the West Asia region, and a major chunk of this demand
is now serviced by Philippines and Sri Lanka. If coconut oil is exported
through all-weather ports, India can grab a good portion of the global
demand and it will also help improve price. Nepal is a large buyer of
coconut oil, and at present, the market is supplied by other exporting
countries. The Indian ethnic population in the US, Europe, Australia and
South Africa would definitely boost demand, and this need to be taken
advantage of. An export benefit of 2 per cent duty drawback is also
available.


Source- http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-
lifts-restrictions-on-coconut-oil-exports-113020600926_1.html


The UAE's first direct supermarket price comparison. Are you
getting a fair deal?

With the price of rent, taxis and services fluctuating dramatically along
with the countrys economic fortunes, the UAEs cost of living is often a
matter of daily discussion.
The government keeps a tight lid on the prices of many day-to-day
items, but food prices can still vary significantly across different
supermarkets, according to a survey by Goodmagazine.
The newly launched magazine, which lists the best deals, offers and tips
for the UAE community, purchased a shopping list at stores across the
UAE and compared total receipts for the following items:

- Milk low-fat Almarai (one litre)
- Bread sliced white from Modern Bakery (medium)
- Butter Lurpak Spreadable Lighter Slightly Salted (250g)
- Cheese packet of unsliced Bega Extra Tasty
- Eggs half a dozen DHA Omega-3 Eggs
- Plain yoghurt Al Ain Low Fat (400g)
- Tea box of Lipton Yellow Label (50 bags)
- Pasta Barilla Penne (500g)
- Water six 1.5L bottles of Masafi
- Orange juice Al Rawabi (500ml)
- Sugar Tate & Lyle Granulated (500g)
- Toothpaste Colgate Total (125ml)
- Toilet roll four-pack of Kleenex
- Washing powder Persil Green (1.5kg).
*Where products were unavailable, the lowest priced equivalent was
purchased.