13/07/2005 (Agri Market) - Russia increased tropical oil imports in May2005 by 1.7 times compared to April. Total May imports of tropical oils toRussia made 58,600 tonnes. Coconut imports in the mentioned periodincreased by 2.2 times making up 12,300 tonnes. Pal kernel oil importsincreased by 16.7 times compared to April and made 3,800 tonnes.

Total palm oil imports to Russia from September to May (2004/05) reached450,800 tonnes, which was 56 percent up from the same period last season(2003/04). Coconut oil imports totalled in the same period 74,800 tonneshaving increased by 16.7 percent. Palm kernel oil imports increased morenotably - by 2.1 times to 28,000 tonnes.

From September 2004 to May 2005 Russia imported 553,700 tonnes of tropicaloils, which is by 18.3 percent more than during the whole 2003/04 season.APK-Inform analysts expect total tropical oil imports to Russia thisseason near 600,000 tonnes.