Local coconut oil producer eyes Japanese market
Local coconut oil producer eyes Japanese market
A local manufacturer expects to export virgin coconut products to Japan in the forthcoming months after the company reached an agreement deal recently.
Virgin Coconut Oil Producing Company Factory Manager, Ms Malisa Bousatry, yesterday told Vientiane Times they have been producing virgin oil products under the Sengtaven (Sunshine) brand over for the past few years which were selling well on the domestic market.
“Our products are now being recognised and attracting interest from foreign customers, and our company has already received orders from Japan,” she said.
“We expect to exp ort about 540 litres of virgin coconut oil in the first order, but now we are waiting on quality checks”.
Ms Malisa highlighted there were good opportunities for Lao coconut oil producers in Japan given that they had already purchased from the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in the past. In addition, the product has also gained recognition from consumers in France who want to use it as a traditional skin treatment and for hair care, but the firm has to improve its smell due to customer complaint s.
The company was now researching and producing the product with fragrance in order to meet customer expectations, she said.
Ms Malisa said they planned to increase production in response to higher demand but sometimes there was a shortage of raw materials and had to buy coconut oil from Vietnam.
Ms Malisa gained a master's degree in food technology from Vietnam and upon returning wanted to manufacture some products that she could distribute to domestic and export markets.
She also wanted to make healthy products, so she decided to study about the production of coconut oil because it is used in many countries for its health giving properties.
She decided to invest about seven to eight million kip and began producing it in her house back in September 2012 in Xokkham village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane.
The appeal of virgin coconut oil is that it has multiple uses. It can be applied to moisturise and soften hair, to moisten skin or used to massage the body.
Moreover it contains high levels of vitamin E and it is turning around perceptions that coconut oil is not good for your health.
Ms Malisa said company has recently launched new lip balm product made from coconut oil with orange, mint, and lemon flavours.
“We brought this new product to showcase at the recent job fair and it has become popular among students,” she added.
Their products are currently on sale in mini-marts, beauty salons and shopping malls around the country.
Prices range from 30,000 kip for a small bottle, 60,000 kip for a medium and 110,000 kip for the largest bottle. Lip balm sells for 25,000 per 10 grammes.
