Karachi, Pakistan, 8/9/2001(Business Recorder) - The Trading Corporationof Pakistan (TCP) has so far received 25,000 tonnes of soya oil from theUnited States and is expecting two more vessels of 12,500 tons each withinthis month. The soya oil is being shipped under the US Aid that is thecompensation for F-16 payment, the final consignment of 25,000 tonnes isexpected to arrive in September.The timing of soya oil arrival is very favourable for the Government ofPakistan as according to market sources, the international market is verystrong and the price of oil has gone up by about 150 dollars more pertonne.Therefore, the import of edible oil at present is very costly. Since theimport duty has been exempted on the arrival of this oil, the TCP isexpected to generate a sizeable amount of money from these shipments.According to the sources of the Pakistan Vanaspati ManufacturersAssociation (PVMA), since the TCP has been exempted from custom duty andother taxes they are demanding that TCP should market soya oil at lowerrates which will help reduce the local price of ghee and cooking oil.The first auction of TCP is due on Aug. 16. However, the market sourcesbelieve that since soya oil is slow item. The TCP will be required tofloat several auctions to complete their sales.Ghee makers believe that the TCP should sell total quantity of soya oilbefore the commencement of manufacture of local cottonseed oil as thecotton crop is expected to be good. Local cottonseed oil is a goodreplacement for soya oil.