Earnings from abaca fiber, abaca pulp and other abaca products went up by 60.7 percent to $46.97 million during the first four months of the year despite the decline in abaca-pulp shipments to Japan, according to figures from the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA).

FIDA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), disclosed that the biggest earners were the exporters of abaca pulp, with receipts totalling $34.04 million, 83 percent higher than the $18.6 million registered in January to April last year.

Revenues from abaca cordage also went up by 34.3 percent to $5.2 million, from $3.87 million. The third-biggest earners were exporters of abaca fibercraft as receipts went up by almost 31 percent to $3.25 million. The value of raw fiber also registered a 6-percent increase to $4.23 million, from $3.99 million.

Export receipts from abaca fabrics, however, registered a decline of 12.6 percent to $240,999, from $275,663 registered in January to April 2010.

In terms of volume, figures from FIDA showed that abaca-pulp exports to Japan declined by 44.3 percent to 803.1 metric tons (MT).

Despite this, FIDA figures indicated that abaca-pulp exports increased by 50.8 percent to 9,163.2 metric tons (MT) for the first four months of the year.

China took up the slack in shipments of abaca pulp to Japan, as shipments shot up by 7,081 percent to 1,104 MT, from 15.4 MT registered in January to April 2010.

Other big buyers of abaca pulp were the United States, where shipments rose by 226 percent to 1,046 MT, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany.

Meanwhile, exports of abaca fiber declined by 4.1 percent to 3,238.5 MT or 25,908 bales of 125 kilograms, from 3,377.8 MT or 27,022 bales of 125 kilos.

For January to April, shipments of abaca cordage posted an increase of almost 30 percent to 2,375.7 MT from 1,832.5 MT last year.

The US is a major buyer of abaca cordage during the period, accounting for 66.5 percent of total shipments. Shipments to the US went up by 43 percent to 1,579 MT, from 1,104 MT last year.

For January to May, FIDA figures showed that abaca production increased by 2.4 percent to 22,253.4 MT or 178,027 bales of 125 kilos, from 21,724.65 MT or 173, 797.2 bales of 125 kilos.

The Bicol region, considered the top producer of abaca in the Philippines, produced 13.4 percent more abaca at 8,986.4 MT, or 71,891.2 bales of 125 kilos. The region accounted for 40.4 output for January to May.

Other major producers of abaca whichregistered output increases during the period were Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Eastern Visayas, a major producer of abaca, posted a 21.1 percent decline in production. Also, the Davao region registered a 3.8 percent decline in output for january to May.

Business Mirror, 30 June 2011 Jennifer A. Ng / Reporter