KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The major growth in the use ofoleochemicals is expected to be in industrial applications, and as suchgreater focus should be directed towards this development, Cognis AsiaPacific regional vice-president Mohd Kassim Salleh said here on Tuesday.

He said that regional demand for oleochemical products stood at 1.7million tonnes last year representing some 33 percent of the world demand.

Of this, industrial applications accounted for 56 percent with detergentsand personal care accounting for 44 percent, he said in his paper on"Developments of Oleochemicals Industry - the next frontier" presented atthe 2001 International Palm Oil Congress (2001 PIPOC).

The three-day congress, which ends tomorrow, is organised by the MalaysianPalm Oil Board (MPOB).

Mohd Kassim said looking ahead, regional demand for oleochemicals isexpected to grow by 14 percent from 1.7 million tonnes in 2000 to 2.0million tonnes by 2005 and rise to 2.4 million tonnes by 2010.

As of 2000, this represents 33 percent of total world demand expanding to34 percent by 2005 and to 35 percent by 2010.

He said that it was interesting to note the growth pattern over thisperiod where the greater growth would still be in the industrial segment.

"Whilst detergent and personal care are expected to grow in absoluteterms, the greater part of the growth trend is expected be in theindustrial segment," he said.

Mohd Kassim said in this aspect, soap is classified under the industrialapplications, which probably accounted for the major portion of the demandgrowth. -- BERNAMA