Hawaii bottled water exports grow 4.5 per cent

Bottled water exports from Hawaii increased 4.5% in the first half of 2008. A Hawaii Foreign Trade Zone report shows exports of bottled water reached 40.5 million tonnes for the first six months of 2008, compared with 38.7 million tonnes in the same period a year ago. 

In just a few years, desalinated bottled water has become one of Hawaii's biggest foreign exports, with the domestic industry shipping over $37 million worth of bottled deep-sea water a year. 

The export report shows that Japan is the top destination for water exported directly from Hawaii, followed by China, Hong Kong, Palau and Taiwan. 

A number of companies have sprung up in recent years to make the most of the trend which has been developed largely by Koyo USA Corp that is responsible for MaHaLo, the Big Island’s most successful deep-sea water brand.

Koyo reckons its Kona plant is the world's biggest deep-sea bottling facility with a production capacity of over 750,000 bottles daily. 

Moreover, The firm said it shipped $24 million worth of products to Japan in 2006 although more recent trading figures have yet to be released. MaHaLo was recently added to the water menu at Claridge's hotel in London, which features some 30 bottled waters from around the world. Koyo is considering opportunities for expansion in a select number of European countries. 

In addition to Koyo, Asia's thirst for Hawaiian desalinated bottled water also has attracted Los Angeles based Deep Sea Water International; Japanese owned Enzamin USA; Korean-owned Savers Holdings; and Japanese-owned Hawaii Deep Marine Inc.

Resource: foodbev.com

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