JAKARTA, Feb 7 Asia Pulse - Indonesia hopes to export up to 1.2 milliontons of crude palm oil (CPO) to India in 2005, up from 960,000 tons in2004 with the relaxation of import restriction..The surge in export is possible with the abolition of the regulationrequiring a minimum content of beta carotene for CPO allowing to enterthat country.

Chairman of the association of palm oil companies (Gapki) Derom bangunsaid India imposed an import restriction allowing only the imports of CPOhaving have a beta carotene content of 500-2,500 parts per million (ppm).

Indonesia has been in difficulty to meet the requirement but with therelaxation of the restriction, exports to that country could be easilyraised, Bangun said.

He said he had received information from India that the minimum limit forbeta carotene content will be reduced to 250 ppm.

He said the country's CPO production is also expected to rise in 2005 to11.6 million tons from 10.8 million tons in 2004.