21 January 2005 [BOGOTA] Plans to increase Colombia's share of the globalpalm oil market received a boost last month when the Centre for Oil PalmResearch, Cenipalma, opened its first research station.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Tricubes Bhd's associate company,Tricubes Suria Sdn Bhd (Trisuria), has been awarded a RM9.183 millioncontract to implement select software, hardware and services for SabahPort Sdn Bhd's integrated Port Management System project.

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- The potential of using vegetable oils, suchas palm oil and soya oil as bio-fuels is increasing considerably aspetroleum crude prices continue to rule high.

1/19/2005 Miami Herald - New evidence that the rapid expansion of Brazil'sexport-fuelled agriculture sector is contributing to the deforestation ofthe Amazon rain forest is emerging from a study being finalised by a groupof leading environmental organisations.

20/1/05 - CB INDUSTRIAL Product Holding Bhd is expecting double-digitgrowth in revenue for its current year ending December 31 2005 if the palmoil industry sustains its good run.

JAKARTA, Jan 18 Asia Pulse - State-owned plantation company PTPN III inMedan said it will build a panel wood plant in cooperation with investorsfrom China and Japan.

19/1/05Indonesia Palm Oil Lower On Weak Demand(Dow Jones)--Indonesia palm oil prices lower amid sluggish buyinginterest as weak soyoil, excess supply continued to drive prices lower.CPO in Medan was traded lower at IDR3,310/kg vs IDR3,350/kg yesterday."Buyers aren't keen to buy. They see that there's still room for theprices to go lower," says trader in Medan. RBD Olein in Jakarta was tradedlower at IDR3,700/kg. It was offered at IDR3,750/kg yesterday, but notrades were reported.

KARACHI (January 20 2005): Pakistan's vegetable oil imports were expectedto remain slow on falling international prices and high domestic stocks,and dealers said on Wednesday traders would wait for world prices tosettle down. Dealers said reports of high palm oil stocks in Malaysia hadalso sidelined big players, as they expect prices to remain soft in daysahead.

17 January 2005 KORONADAL CITY -- The city government here plans todevelop at least 300 hectares of idle lands into oil palm (Elaeisguineensis) plantations in the next two years.Emelita Miguel, city agriculturist, said they are now validating theirlist of 20 prospective farmers and the proposed plantation sites in 20 ofthe city's 27 barangays.

17/01/2005 - Dutch producer of oils and fats Loders Croklaan has changedits company logo in an effort to underline the connection with itsMalaysian parent company IOI Group and emphasize their joint palm oilstrategy.