The CJ-Toyota Tsusho Xylose Plant, an export company of sugar products extracted from coco shells located in Sta. Cruz this province, will be increasing its need of coconut shells from 350 metric tons a day to 450MT or 85,000MT a year.
The required supply of coco shells is to meet the demand of producing 12,000MT annually of the D-xylose product or a sugar product derived from coco shells, said Provincial Director Engr. Edwin Banquerigo of Department of Trade and Industry.
Banquerigo said that the CJ-Toyota Tsusho has been operating in the province since 2010, and is exporting the D-xylose product to China, Japan and Korea.
He said that the D-xylose is used as sweetener for industrial products and confectionery products such as toothpastes and gums.
Banquerigo told the media in Friday’s Kapihan sa PIA that the high demand of coco shells will be beneficial to the coco farmers, saying that this would increase their income.
However he said that coco shell supplies in the province would not be enough to meet the demand of the D-xylose production, noting the corresponding need of coco shells in the production of activated carbon or charcoal.
This is why, he added that CJ-Toyota Tsusho is getting coco shells from other areas in Mindanao.
Banquerigo said that the company has been providing earnings to the export industry of Davao del Sur.
The D-xylose plant operation has generated approximately more than US$24 million in export sales since 2010, according to DTI’s accomplishment report of 2011.
The report stated that the company has also provided US$1.5 million in workers compensation covering 200 employees.