Archived News

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.

11/26/2004 INDIA BUSINESS INSIGHT - Oilseeds production in India hasstagnated at around 25 million tonnes per annum since the mid-1990s andproduction in 2003-2004 was 25.14 million tonnes.

November 27, 2004 - PETALING JAYA: More than 98,000 Felda settlers will bepaid a bonus of between RM1,000 and RM1,500 each at the end of the year.

CHENNAI, JUNE 19: The oil palm refinery of the Tiruchirapalli-basedCauvery Palm Oil Ltd, is expected to begin commercial production nextmonth. ``We are in the final stages of plant erection and in allprobability it will be commissioned in the second week of July 2003, Mr VR Jayamani, general manager of the project told òf48óFEòf45ó fromTiruchirapalli. This demonstration-crushing-unit is being established atVaranavasi village, Ariyalur Taluk, Perambalur district.