From liquid to solid, Axelum makes miracles from coconut milk

Newly listed integrated coconut manufacturer Axelum Resources Corp. has completed the P250-million expansion of the spray-drying line of its plant in Medina, Misamis Oriental, as it braces for growing global demand.

In a press statement Wednesday, Axelum president Henry Raperoga said this expansion would double the plant capacity to 20 metric tons (MT) of coconut milk powder per day. This translates to an annual capacity of 4,800 MT.

“The expansion utilizes the latest agglomeration technology in spray-drying,” explained Raperoga. “Agglomeration is a process that makes the powder more dispersible or soluble when introduced to liquid.”

“The new spray-drying line will allow us to develop new products from agglomerated—or instant—coconut milk powder,” he said.

One such new product that Axelum seeks to develop is organic coconut milk.

Agglomerated organic coconut milk powder is a high-technology, higher-priced coconut milk variant—Axelum’s response to growing global market demand for healthier products.

Earlier this month, Axelum bagged a new order for organic coconut milk powder to be used as ingredient in a skin care product or supplement. The initial order is for 170 MT, worth an estimated $1.3 million, for export.

Raperoga earlier reported coconut milk powder had one of the highest margins among Axelum’s product offerings. “Pound-for-pound, the selling price of coconut milk powder is three to four times that of our mainline product desiccated coconut.”

The Axelum chief said health-conscious consumers worldwide were willing to pay a premium for healthy products. His company planned to capitalize on this trend and continue to develop the market for coconut milk powder.

“And the market is recognizing the added advantages of coconut milk powder such as ease of storage, longer shelf life, less wastage, and is more versatile to use,” said Raperoga.

In a research paper, the University of Asia & the Pacific noted coconut milk powder exported from the Philippines grew by 38 percent per year by volume and 60 percent per year by value from 2008-2017.