Pakistan is expected to buy 1.4 million tonnes of palm oil this year thesame amount as 200, but soyabean oil imports could drop 20% due to highprices, according tto industry sources. RBD palm olein would make up thebulk of its palm oil imports, which came from leading producers Malaysiaand Indonesia in 2003. However soyabean oil imports from South America andother sources could drop from last year’s 126,000 tonnes, particularly ifPakistan does not receive aid or grants.

Pakistan is expected to import not more than 100,000 tonnes of soyabeanoil if the price difference between palm and soyabean oil is more than$100. On Wednesday (03/03/04) a tonne of CPO was at least $200 cheaperthan its equivalent of crude degummed soyabean oil from South America.While Pakistan’s demand for oils was just 2.24 million tonnes last year,the total amount available reached about 2.58 million tonnes, or about 15%more, due partly to direct or indirect supplies it was making toAfghanistan.

REUTERS04/03/04