New line boosts coco powder production

The project is in line with the program to upgrade its production facilities ahead of the growing global the market for coconut-based products.

New technology has speeded up the process of making coconut powder for this manufacturer in Mindanao who looks forward to ramping up production.

Coconut manufacturer Axelum Resources Corp. announced the completion of the expansion of its spray-drying line at its plant in Medina, Misamis Oriental.

In a disclosure, Axelum said the P250 million spray-drying line expansion will increase the plant’s capacity from 10 metric tons (MT) of coconut milk powder at present to 20 MT per day.

This translates to an increase in its annual capacity to 4,800 MT.

“The expansion utilizes the latest agglomeration technology in spray-drying. This will allow us to develop new products from agglomerated — or instant — coconut milk powder,” Axelum president Henry J. Raperoga said, adding that one such product is organic coconut milk powder.

Raperoga said the project is in line with the program to upgrade its production facilities ahead of the growing global the market for coconut-based products.

Agglomeration is a process that makes the powder more dispersible or soluble when introduced to liquid.

Agglomerated organic coconut milk powder is a high-technology, higher-priced coconut milk variant the company is introducing to address the pressing market demand for healthier products.

Earlier this month, Axelum said it closed a new order for organic coconut milk powder to be used as ingredient in a skincare product or supplement.

The initial order, which is for export, is for 170 MT, worth an estimated $1.3 million.

In 2018, Axelum manufactured 2,400 MT of coconut milk powder, its exports totaling 1,300 MT and the domestic market accounting for 872 MT.

Coconut milk powder contributed about P658 million to the company’s gross revenues in the same year.