5/1/06 (Reuters)  -  Indonesia has raised the base export prices of some palm oil products, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said on Thursday (5/1/06).
The base export price per ton of RBD palm oil was raised to $360 from $175, palm kernel to $60 from $35, and crude palm olein to $360 from $165, Reuters reported.
Pangestu has said the changes, which were expected, would be part of efforts to bring prices more in line with international markets.
The regulation on the new prices was signed by the trade minister on December 23, Director General for International Trade, Diah Maulida, said. "The base price will be reviewed every month," she added.
Indonesia also cut the export tax on palm oil derivatives products to 0.3% from 1% while export tax on palm kernel was unchanged at 3%.
Indonesia also increased the base price per ton of crude palm oil to $350 from $160, Pangestu said. 
Refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm olein, which is used for cooking oils, was raised to $380 from $190.
The announcement of the higher base prices had been expected after the government last month said it planned to cut the CPO export tax to 1.5% from 3%.  The tax rates are applied to the base prices to calculate the tax amount.