JAKARTA, March 10 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's exports of crude palm oil (CPO)are predicted to rise from 6.5 million tons in 2003 to 7 million tons thisyear.

Derom Bangun, chairman of the association of palm oil companies (Gapki)said the country's exports of CPO and its derivatives have increased inthe past several years to follow a rise in production while domesticrequirement remains unchanged.

Bangun predicted CPO production will rise to 10.4 million tons this yearfrom 9.9 million tons last year.

Indonesia especially hopes to increase exports of CPO and derivatives toChina to 600,000 tons this year from 400,000 tons in 2003.

India has been the largest buyer of CPO from Indonesia, but exports tothat country was estimated to decline last year from 1.8 million tons in2002. - (ANTARA)