Archived News

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia's exports probably rose for a seventhmonth in October, helped by surging oil prices and sales of palm oil,nickel and coal to Japan and China.

30/11/04 (Dow Jones)--Negative domestic selling margins in China for palmoil products likely to limit room for further imports, at least in comingweeks, traders say. SGS Malaysia export figures show drop of about 100,000tons to China in November; December may also be slow due to weak sellingprices. RBD palm olein prices in major Chinese ports mostly aroundCNY4,650/ton, which below cost of fresh imports, Singapore-based tradersays. Adds given negative margins, further imports likely to be mainly bycompanies that still haven't used up their 2004 quota given by government.

11/30/2004 INDIA BUSINESS INSIGHT - Indian importers of edible oil areexpecting short supply of soya oil from sources within India and aretherefore increasing their stake in crude soya oil. This has resulted in asharp increase in imports of soya oil, soya oil expected to touch 2.2 lakhtonnes of imports in Nov 2004 against an average import of 1.5 lakh tonnesover the previous two months.

29/1104 KANSAS CITY (Dow Jones)--The Brazilian government's firstofficial soybean production estimate for the 2004/05 crop year is 60.8million tons, a 22% increase from last year's crop, according to anattache report posted Friday on the U.S. Department of Agriculture'sForeign Agricultural Services Web site.Ministry of Agriculture in Brazil releases its first projections for2004/05The Brazilian government's first official soybean production estimatefor the 2004/05 crop year is 60.8 million tons, a 22% increase from lastyear's crop.According to Agriculture Minister Rodrigues, this increase inproduction is expected despite less growth than anticipated in plantedarea. CONAB (USDA's ERS and CCC equivalent in Brazil) is projecting aplanted area of between 22.0 and 22.4 million hectares, an increase ofapproximately 1 million hectares or a about a 5% increase over last year'sarea.The increase reflects producers' anticipation of lower revenues in2005. Increased costs of production, pressured by high prices forpetroleum and steel, and a drop in international commodity prices arefactors that will reduce planting intentions in Brazil.Decreased fertilizer use also had an impact and made farmers moresusceptible to climate variations. CONAB reports that farmers are facedwith irregular rain patterns and in many areas, a lack of rain in generalas farmers begin spring planting. Water reserves in the South are alsobelow normal levels.Commenting on Brazil's storage and transportation problems, theMinister said that the Brazilian government will invest 62 million Reais(US$ 22.1 million) in infrastructure improvements. The GOB anticipatesthat this investment will generate $1 Billion of additional commodityexports.

Sunday, November 28, 2004 TAGUM CITY, PHILIPPINES -- Frequently floodedtowns in Davao del Norte have great potential for palm oil production.

29/11/04 KUALA LUMPUR - Consolidated Plantations Bhd (Consplant), theunlisted plantation arm of Sime Darby Bhd, is positioning to be aprominent global oil palm player through acquisition of land bank anddownstream activities, both locally and abroad.Managing director Datuk Syed Tamin Syed Mohamed said Consplant hoped toachieve this goal within the next two years by doubling the size of itsoil palm plantations as well as acquiring some oleochemicals and oils andfats downstream businesses.To be a prominent player, it is vital for us to be a cost-efficient playerwith high productivity level, significant land bank and an all-roundedinvolvement in the palm oil value chain, he told StarBiz in Subang Jaya.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 27 - Felda plans to develop 20,000ha of marginalland in its schemes to cultivate herbs.The land mainly located in deep valleys and swamps had been left idle formany years as it was unsuitable for oil palm.

28/11/04 PALEMBANG, South Sumatra - A Japanese lawmaker and twobusinessmen met with Palembang government officials on Sunday night, inhopes of exploring investment opportunities in the city.

ALOR STAR, Nov 29 - Compensation for Kedah’s contributions to the countrywas a theme that was repeated in the State Assembly today when abackbencher called on the Federal Government to pay the State RM1.2billion a year.Datuk Dr Afifuddin Omar (BN-Kuala Nerang) said the State would have earnedRM1.2 billion a year if it had used its land to plant oil palm instead ofrice.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can further co-operate withPeru in the palm oil, food, rubber and natural gas sectors, said theDeputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Ahmad HusniHanadzlah.

Lagos, Nigeria,11/29 - Nigeria has lifted a ban it slammed on theimportation of textiles and five other products from neighbouring Benin.

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Sabah Tourism, Culture and EnvironmentMinister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said Monday only three rivers in Sabah arepolluted.