Malaysia's palm oil output is expected to fall to 910,000 - 915,000 tonnesin January from 943,000 tonnes in December, private crop forecaster IvanWong said on Friday. Wong forecast end-January stocks at 1.37 - 1.38million tonnes, down from 1.41 million tonnes at end-December. Exports inJanuary were expected to 805,000 - 810,000 tonnes, down from 894,000tonnes in December, Wong said in a report. Malaysian palm oilsupply-demand estimates / projections as of January 19, 2001 (in `000tonnes) :

Dec JanFeb Mar

Opening stocks 15281416 1365-1375 1285-1295Imports - -- -Production 948910-915 810-815 855-860Total Supply 2471 2326-23312175-2190 2140-2155Exports 894805-810 750-755 795-800Apparent Domestic Use 161145-150 130-135 135-140Total Offtake 1055950-960 880-890 930-940End Month Stocks 1416 1365-13751285-1295 1200-1210

REUTERS

BAL/RAG/hhh.22/01/01