Palm-oil exports from Indonesia set to advance on Ramadan

By Yoga Rusmana and Eko Listiyorini

Palm-oil shipments from Indonesia, the world’s largest producer, may climb 9.5 percent in June on sustained demand before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Exports are set to climb to 1.5 million metric tons from 1.37 million tons in May, while output will probably be little changed at 2.1 million tons, according to the median of five plantation and refining company executives in a Bloomberg News survey. Inventory will also be little changed at 1.85 million tons, two of the respondents said.

Futures lost 17 percent from a 13-month high in April as the debt crisis in Europe and the slowing economy in China, the largest cooking-oil user, reduced demand, potentially limiting costs for Nestle SA (NESN), the world’s largest foodmaker, and curbing revenues at PT Astra Agro Lestari and Golden Agri-Resources Ltd. (GGR), the second-biggest grower.

“Global demand, either from India or other countries, will usually increase by 15 percent to 20 percent during the festive seasons,” said Derom Bangun, a deputy chairman atWomens Running Shoes & Running Clothes