KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures extendedgains on market-friendly exports data, but some players were cautious asthe market was scheduled to switch to screen-based trading later thisweek, traders said on Wednesday.At the close, the benchmark third-month March futures closed 24ringgit up at 1,170 ringgit ($307.89) a tonne, just below key resistanceof 1,180. Volume was slow at 649 lots."A lot of people don't want to take new positions because they have noidea how this electronic trading will affect the market," said one traderin Kuala Lumpur.An official at the Malaysian Derivatives Exchange (MDEX), which tradespalm oil futures, said the market would abandon the open cry system andswitch to screen-based trading starting on Friday."It is confirmed the electronic trading will start on Friday. I thinkit should be okay because we have conducted a lot training and all that,"he said.Traders said the market was comfortable with the exports data forDecember 1-25 which cargo surveyor SGS put at 804,352 tonnes, slightlydown from 891,397 tonnes in November 1-25.They said the data was encouraging because it showed a significantjump in exports between December 20 and 25, adding that exports couldreach 900,000 tonnes in the whole of December.SGS put December 1-20 exports at 578,143 tonnes.Separately, traders said China has almost used up its palm oil importquotas for 2001, but lack of official word from Beijing on next year'squotas is keeping market in the doldrums.China, one of the world's major palm oil buyers, is set to import 2.4million tonnes of palm oil in 2002, up sharply from this year's 1.4million following its entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).Between 5,000 and 10,000 tonnes were still available from this year'squota, traders said. In the absence of other market-moving news during thecurrent holiday season, any clues on China purchases would help set themarket tone."We all agree the current quota is almost used up. The remainingamount is so insignificant that it's not worth mentioning," said onetrader who deals with Chinese buyers."We don't know when China is going to issue the quota. But Iunderstand China will not roll over the unfinished quota into next year,"he said.At the physical market, January crude palm oil (CPO) for southern andcentral regions was bid at 1,120 ringgit a tonne and offered 1,130ringgit.Deals were reported at 1,130 ringgit for south.