Monday, August 18, 2008

Breaking News-RTRS-Indonesia says palm oil demand remains strong as prices fall

JAKARTA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Global demand for palm oil remains strong after prices plunged to an 11-1/2-month low last week, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said on Sunday.

The decline in commodities prices is unlikely to affect Indonesia's target for export growth of between 12 to 15 percent this year, Pangestu told reporters in Jakarta.

Palm oil "demand is still strong from China and India, biofuel demand from Europe is also rising," Pangestu said.