6/18/2004 CHEMICAL BUSINESS NEWSBASE - : Palm oil processors areincreasing capacity in Europe and the US as global demand for palm oilproducts increases. In the US, Loders Kroklaan (division of Malaysiancompany IOI Group) will increase processing capacity to 250,000 tonnes/yat Channahon, IL, and storage capacity in New Orleans, LA. In Brazil,Agropalma Group will invest R$1 M to increase palm oil processingcapacity, from 250 to 350 tonnes/day at Belem. The company plans toincrease exports to the US and Europe. In Rotterdam, the Netherlands,Loders Kroklaan has started construction of a 2500 to 3000 tonnes/day palmoil processing and fractionating unit. Also in Rotterdam, Malaysiancompany Kuok Oils and Grains (KOG) will invest EUR 25 M in a palm oilrefinery. In Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, Unimills BV (subsidiary ofMalaysian company Golden Hope Plantations Bhd) is constructing a palm oilfractionation unit. Total palm oil refinery capacity, in the Rotterdamarea, is about 2 M tonnes/y.