21/2/06 MEDAN (Asia Pulse) - Indonesia`s crude palm oil (CPO) exports are expected to reach 10.3 million tons in 2005, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (GAPKI), Derom Bangun said here Friday.

Until October 2005, CPO exports reached 8.67 million tons and the figure was expected to increase further due to stronger demand in some countries, Derom said.

The increase in CPO demand resulted from a rising demand for biodiesel fuel, he added.

Pakistan had planned to increase its CPO imports from Indonesia this year after it imported one million tons of CPO in 2005.

"Demand from India and China is predicted to increase, thus our CPO exports in 2006 will surpass those in 2005, which are expected to reach 10.3 million tons," Derom said.