12/08/04, SAO PAULO (Dow Jones)--Brazil soybean export registrationsfor the 2004-05 marketing year (February-January) edged forward to 19.12million metric tons in the second half of July, according to officialfigures released Thursday.Registrations rose slowly from the 18.64 million tons registered onJuly 31 but remain well ahead of the 17.345 million tons registered at thesame stage the previous year, according to government figures madeavailable by the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries, orAbiove.Abiove forecast soybean exports will reach a record 19.8 million tonsin 2004-05, down from 19.99 million tons last year.Soymeal registrations totaled 10.31 million tons up to July 31, up461,000 tons from July 15 and just ahead of the 10.15 million tonsregistered for export at the same time last year.Exports of meal are expected to total 15.200 million tons, accordingto Abiove, up from 13.577 million tons last year.Soyoil registrations rose 135,000 tons in the last 15 days of July,totaling 2.16 million tons for the 2004-05 season, up from 1.66 milliontons at the same stage last year.Soyoil exports are seen reaching 2.7 million tons in 2004-05, up from2.40 million tons the year before.Brazil is the world's No. 2 producer and exporter of soybeans.