27/07/04 Ukraine - In May 2004 imports of palm oil went further down alongwith imports of coconut oil. In May 2004 Ukrainian companies purchasedcumulatively 8 ths.t of palm, coconut and palm kernel oil which is one anda half times less than during April. In late May Odessa seaport receivedaround 8 ths.t of palm oil however it will be sold no sooner than June.Moreover, Illichivsk port also received a vessel loaded with 7 ths.t ofpalm oil. Part of the above volumes may be sold to Russian companieshowever the majority of the commodity will be delivered to the Ukrainianmarket.

In general tropical oils imports during the season in review isbeating the indicators of the previous 2002/03 MY (October-May), due toincreased needs of domestic foodstuffs producers in those kinds of oils.Thus, since the beginning of the season (as of late May) Ukraine imported68.7 ths.t of palm oil and oleine and 9.4 ths.t coconut and palm kerneloil, versus 60.8 ths.t and 6.7 ths.t during the same period (October-May)of the previous season.