Malaysia '07 palmoil output seen at 15.5m tonnes

Malaysian palm oil output is expected to total 15.5 million tonnes in 2007, Commodities Minister Peter Chin said on Monday.

He did not give a figure for 2006. Output in the world's largest producing country totalled 15.4 million tonnes in 2005, he said.

"If the recent trend of growth continues over the next few years and prices remain at stable levels, the area under palm oil will continue to grow to reach 4.5 million hectares and productivity at 15.5 million tonnes in 2007," Chin told an industry conference.

Area under palm oil cultivation stood at 3.9 million hectares in 2005, Chin said but he did not give a figure for this year.