tonnes from last year’s high. During2003-2004 drought in the US wipedout around 2% of global soyabean oilsupply. Soya oil output from the US isexpected to rise by 1.7 M tonnes in2004-2005. Global consumption ofoils and fats during Oct 2003-Sep2004 is predicted at around 128.45 Mtonnes. The use of discriminatoryimport duties by the major importingcountries was discussed. India hasimposed a 65% palm oil duty on CPOand 70% on unrefined palm oil, butjust 45% for soybean oil. Globalcapacity for fatty acids is expected torise from 6.2 M tonnes currently to 9M tonnes by 2010. Over the past 2-3years global capacity for fattyalcohols has increased by around 2%to 2.15 M tonnes in 2003 and shouldreach 2.8 M tonnes by 2010.Production of palm oil in Indonesiawill rise from 9.8 M tonnes in 2003 to10.571 M tonnes in 2004.

Oils and Fats International, May 2004, 20 (3), 30-31

PCO to expand Pasir Gudang

A major expansion programme isbeing undertaken by Pan-CenturyOleochemicals (PCO) of Malaysia,which will include a merger with Pan-Century Edible Oil (PCEO), its sistercompany, and capacity expansions atits Pasir Gudang production site.Developments will take place over thenext 3-4 years, and will cost thecompany Ringgit 400 M. PCO isowned by the Aditya Birla group. Itcurrently produces 125,000 tonnes/yglycerine and several fatty acids,including lauric, palmitic and stearicacid. PCEO has a capacity to produceover 1 M tonnes refined palm oil andhydrogenated palm olein, togetherwith fatty acids and soap noodles.

Oils and Fats International, May 2004, 20 (3), 10

Growth plans for oil palm companies

Malaysia’s oil palm plantationcompanies are enjoying revenuegrowth on the back of current strongCPO prices, and a number haverevealed expansion plans. PPB OilPalms Bhd recorded an unauditedpre-tax profit of Ringgit 47.7 M on aturnover of Ringgit 117.6 M for 1Qended Mar 2004 (pre-tax profit ofRinggit 46 M on turnover of Ringgit98.9 M in 1Q 2003) and anticipates agrowth in revenue for year ended Dec

2004. The company is planning toacquire another 30,000 hectares inCentral Kalimantan, Indonesia, for itsongoing expansion of oil palmplantation, through parent companyPPB Group Bhd’s purchase ofKalimantan Palm Industries Sdn Bhdand Jasa Karya Sdn Bhd. Thecompany has set aside at least Ringgit100 M to be utilized as working capital,and for new land acquisitions andreplanting. PPB Oil Palms owns andoperates 13 oil palm plantations andseven palm oil mills in east Malaysiaand Indonesia, and is due tocommission two further mills this year.The production cost of CPO for thecompany is about Ringgit 650/tonne(Ringgit 500-550/tonne in 2003).

IOI Corp Bhd recorded a net profitof Ringgit 483 M for nine monthsended Mar 2004 (+35% over netprofit of Ringgit 359 M in nine monthsended Mar 2003). The pre-tax profitfrom the plantation division increased36% to Ringgit 782 M for the period.IOI Oleochemicals Industries Bhdalso posted a 55% increase in netprofit from oleochemicalsmanufacturing to Ringgit 132 M forthe 3 quarters to Mar 2004.

IJM Plantations Bhd posted a netprofit of Ringgit 5.2 M for 1Q endedMar 2004 (net profit of Ringgit 2.1 Min 1Q 2003). Revenue increased toRinggit 50.7 M for 1Q 2004 (Ringgit28.9 M in 1Q 2003). The company iscurrently planning to purchaseplantation land, particularly near theSandakan and Sugut areas of Sabahas the company already owns land inthat region. The company intends toincrease the total hectarage of its oilpalm plantation by about 30% tonearly 40,000 hectares by 2009. IJMpossesses 12 oil palm plantations;controls 3 palm oil mills in Sabah witha total capacity of 840,000 tonnes/y;and has a palm kernel crushing plantwith a capacity of about 86,000tonnes/y.

The Star, 14, 15 & 20 May 2004 (Website:http://www.thestar.com.my)

SURFACTANTSNew nonionic BASF surfactants offerenhanced performance

BASF has launched two new rangesof readily biodegradable nonionic

surfactants to the market. TheLutensol XL and Lutensol XPsurfactants offer detergentmanufacturers and formulators higherperformance and value compared toconventional surfactants. Typicalapplications include all-purposecleaners, degreasers, floor cleaners,and hand-dishwashing detergents.These surfactants are also employedin formulations for use in the textileindustry, for degreasing wool, and inindustrial spray-cleaning processes.The degree of ethoxylation of theLutensol® XL types ranges from 4 to14, and the Lutensol® XP types from3 to 14. The Lutensol XP surfactantsare excellent replacements for C9-Cllalcohol ethoxylates, with superiorwetting power. The Lutensol XLsurfactants also have the advantagesof superior wetting but even higheremulsifying power. In particular, theyare much more quick-acting thanconventional surfactants on glasssurfaces. Although the Lutensol XLtypes are short-chain alcoholethoxylates with a highly dynamicwetting action, their high emulsifyingpower is comparable to that ofsurfactants based on longer-chainalcohols. These new surfactants havea very low odour, and their lowresidual alcohol content makes thema good alternative to C9-C11 alcoholethoxylates and alkylphenol-ethoxylates, the company says.

In other news, BASF againshowed that it can maintain a goodcourse financially, even in stormyeconomic weather, thanks to its clearstrategy for long-term success. Thecompany reported improved salesand earnings in 1Q 2004, with salesup 2.5% compared to 1Q 2003, EBITbefore special items up 21% to€1,138 M and net income up 17%.

Press release from: BASF Group, Germany. Website:http://www.basf.de (7 May & 29 Apr 2004)

UK starts voluntary phase out ofnonylphenol, octylphenol and theirethoxylates

In the UK, industries using the toxicchemicals nonylphenol, octylphenoland their ethoxylates have voluntarilyagreed to phase out their use afterconsultations with producers and theUK government. The agreement wasmade after the UK’s ChemicalsStakeholder Forum advised that EU

JULY 2004 3

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