September 24, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 30, 1427

MUMBAI, Sept 23: Pakistan's imports of crude palm oil are expected nearly to double to 750,000 tons in calendar 2007 from about 400,000 tons in 2006 due to higher refining capacity, an industry official said on Saturday.

“Our refining of oil is going to touch 5,000 tons per day next year from 3,500 tons currently,” A. Rasheed Jan Mohammed, director, Westbury group of companies, told Reuters on the sidelines of an edible oils conference.

Jan Mohammed said three new refineries were being set up next year in addition to six already in operation.

But he said Pakistan's overall palm oil imports would rise only marginally to 1.7M tons next year from about 1.6M tons in 2006.

EXPORTS: Indonesia’s palm oil exports are likely to grow to 12 million tons in calendar 2007 from 11.3 million tons in the current year, Derom Dangun, executive chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), said on Saturday.

Indonesia had exported 10.38 million tons of palm oil in 2005.

The country's palm oil output in 2007 was expected to grow to 16.35 million tons in 2007 from 15 million in the current year, Dangun told Reuters on the sidelines of an edible oils conference.

Indonesia produced 13.6 million tons of palm oil in 2005.

—Reuters