Water pulled from the ocean depths, stripped of salts and bottled is continuing to drive exports from Hawai'i to Asia and other countries.

Export figures released by Foreign Trade Zone No. 9 show the exports rose 3.6 percent during the first 10 months of the year compared with the similar 2007 period. In all, local companies shipped about 138 tons were shipped through October.

"It's still growing at almost 4 percent," said Gregory Barbour, who tracks water exports as administrator of Hawai'i's foreign trade zone.

"That's an excellent growth rate when the numbers are that high."

The growth is attributable to the popularity of desalinated deep-sea water, which is being marketed in Japan and other Asian markets as a nutrient-rich, pathogen-free drink. Companies here point out that the water is drawn from thousands of feet below the surface.

The market for the water has grown quickly since its start several years ago and has become one of the state's bigger export products. Barbour said Hawai'i is only second in water exports to California.

He said California's exports had declined during the 10-month period but are still way ahead of Hawai'i's.

"It's good news because we're still shipping more water," he said.

Koyo USA Corp. has been the leader in business here, marketing the water under the MaHaLo Hawaii Deep Sea Water label. Koyo claims to operate the largest deep sea bottling plant in the world. Its Big Island facility is capable of producing 750,000 bottles per day.

Besides Japan, other export destinations for the water include China, Hong Kong, Palau and Taiwan.