Export of coconut and coconut products (other than coir and coir products) reached a record Rs 1,050 crore in 2012-13. Total export registered a grew 26 per cent in value and 32 per cent in volume, compared with the previous financial year, according to the Coconut Development Board (CDB).

The country exported 58,000 tonnes of activated carbon worth Rs 550 crore, constituting 50 per cent of the total export earnings. Good quality shell-based activated carbon has great demand in North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and West Asia.

In view of the economic revival and trade increase, India is doing much more trade with American countries in addition to the traditional markets. Coconut shell-based activated carbon is notified under the focus product scheme of the Union government and becomes eligible for a two per cent export incentive from January 1, 2013. Ever since the government had notified the CDB as an Export Promotion Council for all coconut products from April 1, 2009, exports saw an average annual growth of 35 per cent.

The board currently has around 1,000 registered exporters. It aims to achieve Rs 5,000 crore worth coconut product exports by the end of the 12th five-year Plan.