KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and India have agreed toundertake a joint feasibility study on the Comprehensive EconomicCooperation Agreement (CECA), which includes the possibility of havingFree Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

17/1/05 KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Malaysia's crude palm oil production isforecast to rise around 2% from 2004's actual output to 14.24 million tonsin 2005, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.According to data on the government-run MPOB's Web site, CPOproduction in 2004 totaled 13.98 million tons, up 4.7% from 2003.The MPOB said the final 2004 output figure was 2.3% higher than itsinitial projection of 13.66 million tons.It didn't provide reasons for the better-than-forecast 2004 figuresnor for the expected growth in 2005.The following is a breakdown of the MPOB's actual and forecast figuresfor 2004 and 2005 by months:

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 Asia Pulse - Malaysia posted a trade surplus of RM6.0billion (US$1.58 billion) in November 2004, down from RM6.6 billion forthe same month in the previous year, the Statistics Department said.

PENANG, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will explore new markets in Europe toreduce its palm oil stock surplus totalling 1.3 million tonnes.

17/1/05 (Dow Jones)--MPOB forecasts 2005 Malaysian CPO production at 14.24million tons, up 2% from 2004. Traders say figures within expectations asmost players expecting production growth to moderate this year due tocyclical reasons; add, however, that final 2005 figures probably higher asMPOB typically conservative in its projections.

Thailand Jan 16 - IN a bid to reduce the country’s reliance on oilimports, the Ministry of Energy is looking to encourage motorists toswitch to biodiesel in a plan which will be unveiled to the Cabinettomorrow.

KARACHI (January 13 2005): Pakistan's edible oil imports remained slowover the past week due to high domestic cottonseed availability, anddealers said on Wednesday they would remain low in the near term. "Theprices are going down due to the high domestic cottonseed supplies, whichare just going on and on," said Akber Puri, a dealer in the southern portcity of Karachi. "Local cottonseed is a much cheaper option as compared toimported oil, thus the imports are also slow," he said.

Mumbai, January 17, 2005 - India's soy oil imports are set to grow sharplythis year due to lower global prices, but edible oil imports by theworld's largest buyer should be below earlier estimates due to a goodsummer oilseeds crop, a top trade official said on Monday.

1/17/2005 - FNWEB.COM Bangkok - The Ministry of Agriculture andCooperatives has launched a project to increase palm tree plantations onunoccupied land in Thailands southern region. The purpose is to producemore alternative energy and to reduce the need to import oil.

Wednesday January 12, 2005 - MALAYSIA is keen to seek Indonesia’sco-operation to stabilise the price of crude palm oil in the world marketby managing the supply of the commodity together since both countriesaccount for 85% of the world's production.