19 October 2001 (Business Times) - CRUDE palm oil production is expectedto decline by 2.1 per cent next year on account of low biological yieldcycle of the crop and the large hectarage which has been taken out ofproduction due to replanting.At the same time, crude and processed palm oil exports are expected toincrease by 11.5 per cent in 2002 to RM11.8 billion from RM10.6 billionestimated this year.Palm oil production in 2001 is anticipated to increase by an estimated onemillion tonnes or 8.9 per cent to reach 11.8 million tonnes.The higher output is on account of a 6.4 per cent increase in yield to19.5 tonnes per ha and the addition of another 158,200ha of planted areacoming into maturity in East Malaysia.As such, total matured hectarage will increase to 3.1 million ha with theproduction bulk or 67.5 per cent coming in from West Malaysia.In 2001, total hectarage planted is estimated to increase by 3.7 per centto 3.5 million ha.Meanwhile, the Government has introduced a replanting programme of200,000ha of oil palm by 2001 to reduce stocks and for use as palm oilfuel.Some RM300 million will be given out as grants to encourage replanting.