For week ending May 21, 2009

       Export in February went to 36 countries. The top three importers held volumes above 300 MT and collectively accounted for 49.1% of total trade. Leading the pack was UAE/Dubai with 878 MT, followed by Pakistan with 431 MT and Saudi Arabia 349 MT. Seven other countries took in between 101 MT and 162 MT and together comprised 27.0% of the market. They were as follows, in descending order, U.A.R/Egypt, Germany, Portugal, Iran, Turkey, France and Jordan. The remaining 26 other countries with combined share of 23.9% bought volume in the range 4-86 MT.

       Russia suspended a 5% tariff on tropical oils for nine months from September 2007 as part of a process to remove import duties on commodities which are not locally produced or insufficiently produced. It later extended the zero tariff to March 2009. The government?s Commission for Protective Measures in Foreign Trade, the body responsible for drafting orders on customs tariffs, initially decided to extend in further until June 1.

       As a major global producer of oilseeds, the report placed US production at 94.5 million MT, up year-on-year by 6%, with growth in soybean output accounting for the majority of the increase. Reduced South American supplies, due to a drought in Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil, are likely to push US soybean exports to a record 1.26 billion bushels, leaving ending stocks to be pitched at 230 million bushels, resulting in low stocks to use ratio of just 7%.

       The plan, however, has never been implemented to date but the campaign already caused a decline in palm oil exports to Europe since 2006. Bagun said although Indonesian palm oil export to Europe accounts for 15 percent of the country?s total crude palm oil trade, European countries have high political influence that could incite countries in other regions to follow their move.

       He said transport was one sector he hoped would benefit from the grants with blends of 5% biodiesel in diesel. Mr. Brownlee said funds available for fuel subsidies will rise NZ$9 million this year, to NZ$12 million in the second year and NZ$15 million in the year ending June 2012. Some biodiesel is already produced in New Zealand from waste cooking oil, tallow and rapeseed oil.

       A number of biodiesel plants in the country closed last year due to drop in sales. From about 1,900 petrol stations selling biodiesel in early 2008, the number has dwindled to just 250, he said. Biodiesel sold at petrol stations in the same year was 1.1 million MT, down by about 700,000 MT in 2007 largely because of biofuels taxes, he said, adding that sales would almost disappear this year.

       The Sunday Times reports that Unilever plans to acquire new companies as part of its expansion plans in Europe. The Anglo-Dutch consumer company?s acquisition list includes Alpro Soya, a manufacturer of soya milk and yogurts. It is reportedly competing with Nestle over the purchase of Alpro Soya. The company also plans to purchase Baltimor, a Russian tomato-ketchup maker. In addition, Unilever is reportedly bidding for parts of Sara Lee?s European household and personal care business. However, it is believed that Unilever is only interested in the personal care division, which includes brands such as Bylcreem hair gel and Sanex deodorant.

       In this new study entitled ?Fat-induced satiety factor oleoylethanolamide memory consolidation? and published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Piomelle and McGaugh discovered that OEA also causes memory consolidation. This is the process by which superficial, short-term memories are transformed into meaningful, long-term ones. Piomelli explained it does this by activating memory-enhancing signals in the amygdala, part of the brain involved in the consolidation of memories of emotional events. However, such memory enhancement may not be so beneficial because while OEA contributes to feelings of fullness after a meal, it could also engender long-term cravings for fatty foods, which when eaten in excess, can cause obesity.