20/07/2017 (The Time of India Business) - ROTTERDAM, July 20 (Reuters) - Palm oil on the European vegetable oils market firmed on Thursday following sharp gains in Malaysian palm oil futures on improving export demand and due to a dip in the dollar.

Asking prices for palm oil were mostly between unchanged and $7.50 a tonne higher after Malaysian palm oil futures closed between 41 and 54 ringgit per tonne up as cargo surveyor data showed rising export demand in the first 20 days of July and because of forecasts of stronger demand from China.

"July 1-20 exports were higher than last month, but the increase was smaller than the rise reported for the first half of July," one broker said.

At 1600 GMT, CBOT soyoil futures were between 0.33 and 0.47 cents per lb higher, tracking a rally in Chicago soybeans on concerns that hot and dry Midwest weather could hurt soybean crop development.

EU rapeoil was mostly quoted between one euro per tonne up from Wednesday and four euros down, as a dip in the dollar weighed on euro-priced products. Technical weakness in rapeseed futures also weighed, while gains in CBOT soyoil limited losses.

The weaker dollar supported dollar-priced lauric oils with sellers offering material between $5 and $25 a tonne higher. Stronger palm oil also added to the strength. EUROPEAN VEG OILS TRADES

PALM OLEIN RBD, dollars a tonne fob Malaysia Sep 635 Oct/Dec 619/627.50 (+12.50) Jan/Mar 630/632.50 (+7.50) Apr/Jun 640

CRUDE PALM OIL, Sumatra/Malaysia sellers option dollars a tonne Apr/Jun 662.50/665

RAPEOIL Dutch/EU, euros a tonne fob exmill Sep 730 Sep/Oct 728

COCONUT OIL Phil/Indo, dollars a tonne cif Rotterdam Nov/Dec 1485 (Reporting by Karel Luimes. Editing by Jane Merriman)