Sibu: Seven major oil palm plantation companies in the state say they are burdened by taxes as high as up to 55 percent.
The companies-Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, Sarawak Oil Palm Bhd, Solid Timber, WTK Holdings Bhd, Woodman Kuala Baram Estate Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Plantation Bhd and the Rimbunan Hijau Group-are appealing to both the federal and state governments, asking for a reduction of taxes and cess contributions.
The seven accounted for more than 50 percent of the state palm oil annual production.
The palm oil cess imposed by the federal government on palm oil plantations is to subsidise the price of cooking oil.
At a press conference here Monday night, a spokesman for the group, Bolhair Redzuan, a senior executive of Sarawak Plantation, said they had six proposals for the federal government and three for the state governments.
The proposals were aimed at strengthening the position of the industry, he said.
"We want the federal government to consider waiving the windfall profit levy, the outstanding amount on Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) cess and the workers' levy," Bolhair said.
"At the same time we want it to review the discount on CPO (crude palm oil) price for Sabah and Sarawak, the MPOB oil cess and fertiliser subsidy," he said.
Bolhair said the group was asking the state government to legalise the illegal foreign workers now employed in its oil palm plantations, saying the state was suffering from a shoratge of workers.
He said other proposals were for the government to consider reducing the special sales tax on CPO and palm kernel and deferring the local council assessment rates on the plantations for the first 10 years.
"Besides the hefty taxes, the industry faces challenges such as low CPO prices, escalating costs of fertilisers, chemicals and fuel as well as labour shortage where the reliance is 95 percent on foreign workers," he said.
According to him, the group felt it was unfair for them to pay the windfall profit levy as Sarawak "is a late entrant in the industry and has the lowest area (at 20 percent) that can contribute to profit".
Although Sarawak has, to date, developed 664,612 hectares, only 103,678 hecatres or 20 percent are income-generating or matured areas.
"Thus, we are still not yet financially self-sufficient in our operations. We still require huge cashflow or injection of funds," he added.
Bolhair said the windfall profit tax affected not only the big players but small companies and smallholders who were still struggling to make ends meet.
"This is putting a lot of pressure on them. We are not questioning this policy of the government but wondering why the oil palm business is selected for this tax," he said.
On the cess fee paid to MPOB to allow it to carry more research, Bolhair said the group hoped for a generous discount for the state in view of the age of the industry, the long gestation and investment recouping periods as well as the difficult soil and terrain conditions.
"We rather the fee be considered based on case-by-case basis. Perhaps the government can consider implementing differentials in terms of cess contribution where the bigger companies will have to pay more," he said.
On fertiliser, Bolhair said it had drastically increased in prices by 150 to 370 percent and was still rising.
The capital investment in the form of plantation development expenditure in the industry has reached an estimated RM11.36 billion in the last six years of oil palm plantation growth in the state, he said.
The plantation sector has generated 14,000 direct job opportunities for Sarawakians, including management and operation staff. - Bernama
source: dailyexpress.com.my
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Palm oil mill fined RM10,000 for discharging toxic effluents into river
Bernama
The Sessions Court here yesterday imposed a fine of RM10,000 on a palm oil mill located in Jalan Ayer Tawar, Manjung, about 70km from here, for discharging toxic effluents into a river nearby the mill on Sept 19, 2007.
Judge Tan Hooi Leng castigated Pantai Remis Palm Oil Mill Sdn Bhd for not adhering to Department of Environment (DOE) regulations in causing pollution in the river.
The mill’s owners were charged under Section 16(1) of Environmental Quality Act 1974 for the offence and could have been fined a maximum of RM25,000 or jailed not more than two years of both.
The prosecution was conducted by Perak DOE prosecuting officer Thamara Selvam a/l Vyapuri.
source: nst.com.my
The Sessions Court here yesterday imposed a fine of RM10,000 on a palm oil mill located in Jalan Ayer Tawar, Manjung, about 70km from here, for discharging toxic effluents into a river nearby the mill on Sept 19, 2007.
Judge Tan Hooi Leng castigated Pantai Remis Palm Oil Mill Sdn Bhd for not adhering to Department of Environment (DOE) regulations in causing pollution in the river.
The mill’s owners were charged under Section 16(1) of Environmental Quality Act 1974 for the offence and could have been fined a maximum of RM25,000 or jailed not more than two years of both.
The prosecution was conducted by Perak DOE prosecuting officer Thamara Selvam a/l Vyapuri.
source: nst.com.my
Greenpeace Temukan Kegiatan Ilegal di Papua Barat
JAKARTA, KAMIS - Greenpeace kemarin mengumumkan bukti kegiatan penebangan ilegal di wilayah pengelolaan hutan (HPH) yang izinnya dibekukan di daerah Kaimana, Papua Barat.
Melalui operasi yang digelar oleh Bareskrim Polri pada bulan Juli lalu dua orang kepala kamp dari PT. Kaltim Hutama dan PT Centrico ditangkap karena melanggar Undang Undang 41/99 tentang Kehutanan, yakni merambah hutan di wilayah terlarang.
"Walaupun izin kedua HPH ini telah dibekukan beberapa bulan yang lalu karena melakukan pelanggaran, kami mendapatkan bukti bahwa operasi masih berlangsung di lapangan. Dengan demikian kegiatan ini merupakan tindakan melawan hukum atau ilegal. Kami menyaksikan pemuatan kayu ke atas tongkang di dua buah penampungan kayu (logpond) besar di sekitar perairan Nabire. Staf BPKH Wilayah X mengkonfirmasi bahwa log pond tersebut adalah milik PT. Kaltim Hutama dan PT Centrico dan kemungkinan besar kayu-kayu tersebut diambil dari wilayah konsesi kedua perusahaan tersebut di wilayah kabupaten Kaimana. Ini artinya mereka melanggar hukum karena melakukan kegiatan saat ijinnya dibekukan," kata Bustar Maitar, Juru Kampanye Hutan Greenpeace Asia Tenggara melalui release resmi yang dikirimkan ke KOMPAS.com.
"Awal bulan lalu tersangka kasus PT Centrico ditemui berjalan bebas di Jakarta, saat seharusnya dia berada dalam tahanan Mabes Polri. Dan saat ini kami menemukan masih berlangsungnya kegiatan di wilayah konsesi PT. Kaltim Hutama. Undang-Undang Kehutanan adalah kunci bagi perlindungan hutan alam terakhir di Indonesia dan harus dipatuhi dengan baik. Pihak perusahaan harus paham bahwa mereka tidak kebal hukum," kata Bustar.
Pelayaran kapal Greenpeace MV Esperanza di Indonesia mengawali kampanye bertajuk Hutan untuk Iklim atau Forest for Climate minggu lalu di Jayapura menyoroti dampak penggundulan hutan (deforestasi) di hutan alam terhadap perubahan iklim global, dan penyusutan keanekaragaman hayati dan penghancuran sumber-sumber penghidupan masyarakat pengguna kekayaan hutan.
Greenpeace menyerukan pemberlakuan sesegera mungkin penghentian sementara (moratorium) terhadap semua bentuk konversi hutan di Indonesia guna mengendalikan emisi gas-gas rumah kaca (GRK), menjaga kekayaan keanekaragaman hayati dan melindungi penghidupan masyarakat setempat.
Minggu lalu Greenpeace menemukan pembukaan hutan sagu dan nipah untuk persiapan perkebunan kelapa sawit berskala besar milik grup Sinar Mas. Hutan alam asli Papua saat ini berada di bawah tekanan besar dari industri penebangan dan kelapa sawit.
"Upaya melindungi benteng terakhir hutan alam Indonesia sangat penting untuk menangani dampak perubahan iklim. Ini berarti desakan untuk melakukan moratorium untuk penebangan hutan dan pendanaan internasional melalui PBB untuk melindungi hutan atas nilai karbon yang dimilikinya," kata Bustar.
Kapal Esperanza, yang sekarang dalam perjalanan dari Jayapura menuju Manokwari, di Propinsi Papua Barat, akan berkegiatan di Indonesia hingga 15 November. Greenpeace mendesak pemerintah untuk segera memberlakukan moratorium terhadap semua bentuk konversi hutan, termasuk perluasan perkebunan kelapa sawit, pembalakan skala industri, serta faktor pendorong lain.
Greenpeace adalah organisasi kampanye global yang independen yang bertindak untuk mengubah sikap dan perilaku masyarakat guna melindungi dan melestarikan lingkungan hidup serta mengusung perdamaian. HO
Melalui operasi yang digelar oleh Bareskrim Polri pada bulan Juli lalu dua orang kepala kamp dari PT. Kaltim Hutama dan PT Centrico ditangkap karena melanggar Undang Undang 41/99 tentang Kehutanan, yakni merambah hutan di wilayah terlarang.
"Walaupun izin kedua HPH ini telah dibekukan beberapa bulan yang lalu karena melakukan pelanggaran, kami mendapatkan bukti bahwa operasi masih berlangsung di lapangan. Dengan demikian kegiatan ini merupakan tindakan melawan hukum atau ilegal. Kami menyaksikan pemuatan kayu ke atas tongkang di dua buah penampungan kayu (logpond) besar di sekitar perairan Nabire. Staf BPKH Wilayah X mengkonfirmasi bahwa log pond tersebut adalah milik PT. Kaltim Hutama dan PT Centrico dan kemungkinan besar kayu-kayu tersebut diambil dari wilayah konsesi kedua perusahaan tersebut di wilayah kabupaten Kaimana. Ini artinya mereka melanggar hukum karena melakukan kegiatan saat ijinnya dibekukan," kata Bustar Maitar, Juru Kampanye Hutan Greenpeace Asia Tenggara melalui release resmi yang dikirimkan ke KOMPAS.com.
"Awal bulan lalu tersangka kasus PT Centrico ditemui berjalan bebas di Jakarta, saat seharusnya dia berada dalam tahanan Mabes Polri. Dan saat ini kami menemukan masih berlangsungnya kegiatan di wilayah konsesi PT. Kaltim Hutama. Undang-Undang Kehutanan adalah kunci bagi perlindungan hutan alam terakhir di Indonesia dan harus dipatuhi dengan baik. Pihak perusahaan harus paham bahwa mereka tidak kebal hukum," kata Bustar.
Pelayaran kapal Greenpeace MV Esperanza di Indonesia mengawali kampanye bertajuk Hutan untuk Iklim atau Forest for Climate minggu lalu di Jayapura menyoroti dampak penggundulan hutan (deforestasi) di hutan alam terhadap perubahan iklim global, dan penyusutan keanekaragaman hayati dan penghancuran sumber-sumber penghidupan masyarakat pengguna kekayaan hutan.
Greenpeace menyerukan pemberlakuan sesegera mungkin penghentian sementara (moratorium) terhadap semua bentuk konversi hutan di Indonesia guna mengendalikan emisi gas-gas rumah kaca (GRK), menjaga kekayaan keanekaragaman hayati dan melindungi penghidupan masyarakat setempat.
Minggu lalu Greenpeace menemukan pembukaan hutan sagu dan nipah untuk persiapan perkebunan kelapa sawit berskala besar milik grup Sinar Mas. Hutan alam asli Papua saat ini berada di bawah tekanan besar dari industri penebangan dan kelapa sawit.
"Upaya melindungi benteng terakhir hutan alam Indonesia sangat penting untuk menangani dampak perubahan iklim. Ini berarti desakan untuk melakukan moratorium untuk penebangan hutan dan pendanaan internasional melalui PBB untuk melindungi hutan atas nilai karbon yang dimilikinya," kata Bustar.
Kapal Esperanza, yang sekarang dalam perjalanan dari Jayapura menuju Manokwari, di Propinsi Papua Barat, akan berkegiatan di Indonesia hingga 15 November. Greenpeace mendesak pemerintah untuk segera memberlakukan moratorium terhadap semua bentuk konversi hutan, termasuk perluasan perkebunan kelapa sawit, pembalakan skala industri, serta faktor pendorong lain.
Greenpeace adalah organisasi kampanye global yang independen yang bertindak untuk mengubah sikap dan perilaku masyarakat guna melindungi dan melestarikan lingkungan hidup serta mengusung perdamaian. HO
Adonis hints UK is wavering on biofuel targets
DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d19600/canada_biofuels_ma) has announced the addition of the "Canada Biofuels Market Potential" report to their offering.
Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass -- recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. It is a renewable energy source, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels.
Ethanol is manufactured from microbial conversion of biomass materials through fermentation. Ethanol contains 35% oxygen. The production process consists of conversion of biomass to fermentable sugars, fermentation of sugars to ethanol, and the separation and purification of the ethanol. Fermentation initially produces ethanol containing a substantial amount of water. Distillation removes the majority of water to yield about 95% purity ethanol, the balance being water. This mixture is called hydrous ethanol. If the remaining water is removed in a further process, the ethanol is called anhydrous ethanol and is suitable for blending into gasoline. Ethanol is "denatured" prior to leaving the plant to make it unfit for human consumption by addition of a small amount of products such as gasoline.
Biodiesel fuels are oxygenated organic compounds -- methyl or ethyl esters -- derived from a variety of renewable sources such as vegetable oil, animal fat, and cooking oil. The oxygen contained in biodiesel makes it unstable and requires stabilization to avoid storage problems. Rapeseed methyl ester (RME) diesel, derived from rapeseed oil, is the most common biodiesel fuel available in Europe. In the United States, biodiesel from soybean oil, called soy methyl ester diesel, is the most common biodiesel. Collectively, these fuels are referred to as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).
Biofuels have become a growth industry with worldwide production more than doubling in the last five years. The rapid expansion of ethanol production in the United States and biodiesel production (and to a lesser extent, biogas) in Germany and other countries in Western Europe has created a biofuels frenzy that has affected many countries, including Canada. Many measures have been used to stimulate production and consumption of biofuels, including preferential taxation, subsidies, import tariffs and consumption mandates. Recently, Canadian federal and provincial governments have announced consumption mandates and subsidies to assist rapid expansion of biofuel production in Canada.
Canada has considerable natural resources and is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of energy. In 2006, Canada produced 21.1 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of total energy, the fifth largest amount in the world. Since 1980, Canada's total energy production has increased by 86%, while its total energy consumption has increased by only 48% during that period. Almost all of Canada's energy exports go to the United States, making it the largest foreign source of U.S. energy imports: Canada is consistently among the top sources for U.S. oil imports, and it is the largest source of U.S. natural gas and electricity imports. Recognizing the importance of the energy trade between the two countries, both participate in the North American Energy Working Group, which seeks to improve energy integration and cooperation between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
The report Biofuel Industry in Canada is a complete coverage of the ethanol and biodiesel market in the country.
source: businessgreen.com
Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass -- recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. It is a renewable energy source, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels.
Ethanol is manufactured from microbial conversion of biomass materials through fermentation. Ethanol contains 35% oxygen. The production process consists of conversion of biomass to fermentable sugars, fermentation of sugars to ethanol, and the separation and purification of the ethanol. Fermentation initially produces ethanol containing a substantial amount of water. Distillation removes the majority of water to yield about 95% purity ethanol, the balance being water. This mixture is called hydrous ethanol. If the remaining water is removed in a further process, the ethanol is called anhydrous ethanol and is suitable for blending into gasoline. Ethanol is "denatured" prior to leaving the plant to make it unfit for human consumption by addition of a small amount of products such as gasoline.
Biodiesel fuels are oxygenated organic compounds -- methyl or ethyl esters -- derived from a variety of renewable sources such as vegetable oil, animal fat, and cooking oil. The oxygen contained in biodiesel makes it unstable and requires stabilization to avoid storage problems. Rapeseed methyl ester (RME) diesel, derived from rapeseed oil, is the most common biodiesel fuel available in Europe. In the United States, biodiesel from soybean oil, called soy methyl ester diesel, is the most common biodiesel. Collectively, these fuels are referred to as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).
Biofuels have become a growth industry with worldwide production more than doubling in the last five years. The rapid expansion of ethanol production in the United States and biodiesel production (and to a lesser extent, biogas) in Germany and other countries in Western Europe has created a biofuels frenzy that has affected many countries, including Canada. Many measures have been used to stimulate production and consumption of biofuels, including preferential taxation, subsidies, import tariffs and consumption mandates. Recently, Canadian federal and provincial governments have announced consumption mandates and subsidies to assist rapid expansion of biofuel production in Canada.
Canada has considerable natural resources and is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of energy. In 2006, Canada produced 21.1 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of total energy, the fifth largest amount in the world. Since 1980, Canada's total energy production has increased by 86%, while its total energy consumption has increased by only 48% during that period. Almost all of Canada's energy exports go to the United States, making it the largest foreign source of U.S. energy imports: Canada is consistently among the top sources for U.S. oil imports, and it is the largest source of U.S. natural gas and electricity imports. Recognizing the importance of the energy trade between the two countries, both participate in the North American Energy Working Group, which seeks to improve energy integration and cooperation between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
The report Biofuel Industry in Canada is a complete coverage of the ethanol and biodiesel market in the country.
source: businessgreen.com
What are the biofuel challenges?
Earth & Sky Radio Serieswith hosts
Deborah Byrd, Joel Block,Lindsay Patterson and Jorge Salazar
Mike Goosey: Biofuels are derived from biomass, an organic raw material of living organisms and also their byproducts as well.
That’s biochemist Mike Goosey with Shell, speaking to us from the Thornton Research and Technology Center near Cheshire in the UK. One of the major biofuels today is bioethanol.
Mike Goosey: It is made through a traditional fermentation process. So very similar to the brewing or winery industry, it uses the sucrose from sugarcane. It can take starch from corn or wheat.
The other major biofuel is biodiesel.
Mike Goosey: And again the source, the biomass for that biofuel is commonly rapeseed, palm oil, soya bean as well in the States.
Many have questioned the use of food crops for fuel. But, in a world whose climate is changing, biofuels are seen by many experts and consumers as a necessary next step.
Mike Goosey: It’s not a silver bullet. And there will be other technologies that will contribute to this. But we do see biofuels as a significant contributor to reducing the CO2, and ultimately climate change that is facing us in the next 30, 40, 50 years.
There’s an additional challenge with biofuels. That is, fuel is needed to grow the crops used to make biofuels. In principle, biofuels are carbon neutral, but in practice farming the plants remains carbon intensive.
Mike Goosey: One of the challenges that the we do face as an industry is looking at is how to improve the yield of the biomass and also reduce the amount of energy that is put into growing that biomass. Something that industry and others are working on is how we can reduce the amount of fertilizer, how we can reduce the amount of water that’s required to generate the amount of biomass.
source: earthsky.org
Deborah Byrd, Joel Block,Lindsay Patterson and Jorge Salazar
Mike Goosey: Biofuels are derived from biomass, an organic raw material of living organisms and also their byproducts as well.
That’s biochemist Mike Goosey with Shell, speaking to us from the Thornton Research and Technology Center near Cheshire in the UK. One of the major biofuels today is bioethanol.
Mike Goosey: It is made through a traditional fermentation process. So very similar to the brewing or winery industry, it uses the sucrose from sugarcane. It can take starch from corn or wheat.
The other major biofuel is biodiesel.
Mike Goosey: And again the source, the biomass for that biofuel is commonly rapeseed, palm oil, soya bean as well in the States.
Many have questioned the use of food crops for fuel. But, in a world whose climate is changing, biofuels are seen by many experts and consumers as a necessary next step.
Mike Goosey: It’s not a silver bullet. And there will be other technologies that will contribute to this. But we do see biofuels as a significant contributor to reducing the CO2, and ultimately climate change that is facing us in the next 30, 40, 50 years.
There’s an additional challenge with biofuels. That is, fuel is needed to grow the crops used to make biofuels. In principle, biofuels are carbon neutral, but in practice farming the plants remains carbon intensive.
Mike Goosey: One of the challenges that the we do face as an industry is looking at is how to improve the yield of the biomass and also reduce the amount of energy that is put into growing that biomass. Something that industry and others are working on is how we can reduce the amount of fertilizer, how we can reduce the amount of water that’s required to generate the amount of biomass.
source: earthsky.org
BERITA FOTO: Penggundulan Hutan Terus Berlangsung di Papua
Kamis, 16 Oktober 2008 16:40 WIB
GREENPEACE mengumumkan bukti kegiatan penebangan ilegal di wilayah pengelolaan hutan (HPH) yang izinnya dibekukan di daerah Kaimana, Papua Barat. Foto-foto dikirim secara resmi oleh Greenpeace Southeast Asia kepada KOMPAS images.
Sebelumnya, Greenpeace juga menemukan pembukaan hutan sagu dan nipah untuk persiapan perkebunan kelapa sawit berskala besar milik grup Sinar Mas. Hutan alam asli Papua saat ini berada di bawah tekanan besar dari industri penebangan dan kelapa sawit.
Berbagai temuan ini menyusul pelayaran kapal Greenpeace MV Esperanza di Indonesia mengawali kampanye bertajuk Hutan untuk Iklim atau Forest for Climate di Jayapura, menyoroti dampak penggundulan hutan (deforestasi) di hutan alam terhadap perubahan iklim global, dan penyusutan keanekaragaman hayati dan penghancuran sumber-sumber penghidupan masyarakat pengguna kekayaan hutan. FIAsource: kompas.com
FDA recalls skimmed milk with palm oil
Thu, Oct 16, 2008The Nation,ANN
THAILAND - The Food and Drug Administration yesterday ordered a nationwide recall of unsweetened condensed skimmed milk with a palmoil formula and products using the same ingredients after finding high melamine contamination at the Thai Dairy Industry's factory.
As an immediate measure, the FDA confiscated 150,000 cans of the product to study the melamine content and instructed all provincial public health units to pull all similar products off the shelves.
Dr Pipat Yingseri, secretarygeneral of the FDA, said inspectors had randomly collected 10 samples of milk products from Thai Dairy Industry's plant for examination.
The laboratory tests run by the Medical Science Department detected 92.82 milligrams of melamine compound per kilogram of unsweetened condensed skimmed milk with palm oil formula.
This transgresses the FDA standard of not more than 1 milligram per kilogram or 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of milkbased food and beverages. The company will face a fine of Bt5,000 to Bt20,000 and its executives imprisonment for six months to two years, he said.
The FDA is now investigating all raw materials that the company imported from Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, India and Burma.
Six dairy products were considered safe for human consumption, he said.
The three products from Snow Brand are modified milk readytomelt formula 2 Nuo Plus for infants and children aged six months to three years, modified milk readytomelt formula 1 Duo for newborns to infants aged one year, and readytomelt milk formula 3 Nuo Kids for infants aged one year and family members.
The three other products are Mali's sweetened condensed skimmed milk with palm oil and butter oil formula (skimmed powdered milk 20 per cent), Foster Farms Dairy's nonfat dry milk made from pasteurised milk, and skimmed powdered milk.
Three more products are now being checked for traces of melamine - Orchid salted butter, Birdwings sweetened condensed nondairy creamer, and sweetened condensed milk. The lab results will be released soon.
Suwit Polviwat, assistant managing director of Thai Dairy Industry, said he had not received any reports yet and could not give any details about the melamine contamination in the company's product because he was not working at the office at that time.
"We are now checking which product lots were tainted with melamine and will officially disclose the details to the media later," he said.
Pipat said the FDA had tested 519 milkbased products for contamination. The lab results of 200 products were positive and the products found safe for consumption. The rest of products are being investigated.
Some manufacturers have not reported the source of their raw materials use to make milk products to the FDA, he said.
The lab test results on S&P Syndicate's cookies and ingredients are expected to be available today.
People should drink lots of water to drain the melamine toxin from their kidneys in order to avoid the severe symptoms from drinking melaminetainted milk products, he said.
The World Health Organisation has recommended the intake amount of melamine compound at not more than 0.5 milligram per kilogram per day.
Pipat said people could receive a maximum of over 25 milligrams per day of melamine compound.
source: news.asiaone.com
THAILAND - The Food and Drug Administration yesterday ordered a nationwide recall of unsweetened condensed skimmed milk with a palmoil formula and products using the same ingredients after finding high melamine contamination at the Thai Dairy Industry's factory.
As an immediate measure, the FDA confiscated 150,000 cans of the product to study the melamine content and instructed all provincial public health units to pull all similar products off the shelves.
Dr Pipat Yingseri, secretarygeneral of the FDA, said inspectors had randomly collected 10 samples of milk products from Thai Dairy Industry's plant for examination.
The laboratory tests run by the Medical Science Department detected 92.82 milligrams of melamine compound per kilogram of unsweetened condensed skimmed milk with palm oil formula.
This transgresses the FDA standard of not more than 1 milligram per kilogram or 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of milkbased food and beverages. The company will face a fine of Bt5,000 to Bt20,000 and its executives imprisonment for six months to two years, he said.
The FDA is now investigating all raw materials that the company imported from Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, India and Burma.
Six dairy products were considered safe for human consumption, he said.
The three products from Snow Brand are modified milk readytomelt formula 2 Nuo Plus for infants and children aged six months to three years, modified milk readytomelt formula 1 Duo for newborns to infants aged one year, and readytomelt milk formula 3 Nuo Kids for infants aged one year and family members.
The three other products are Mali's sweetened condensed skimmed milk with palm oil and butter oil formula (skimmed powdered milk 20 per cent), Foster Farms Dairy's nonfat dry milk made from pasteurised milk, and skimmed powdered milk.
Three more products are now being checked for traces of melamine - Orchid salted butter, Birdwings sweetened condensed nondairy creamer, and sweetened condensed milk. The lab results will be released soon.
Suwit Polviwat, assistant managing director of Thai Dairy Industry, said he had not received any reports yet and could not give any details about the melamine contamination in the company's product because he was not working at the office at that time.
"We are now checking which product lots were tainted with melamine and will officially disclose the details to the media later," he said.
Pipat said the FDA had tested 519 milkbased products for contamination. The lab results of 200 products were positive and the products found safe for consumption. The rest of products are being investigated.
Some manufacturers have not reported the source of their raw materials use to make milk products to the FDA, he said.
The lab test results on S&P Syndicate's cookies and ingredients are expected to be available today.
People should drink lots of water to drain the melamine toxin from their kidneys in order to avoid the severe symptoms from drinking melaminetainted milk products, he said.
The World Health Organisation has recommended the intake amount of melamine compound at not more than 0.5 milligram per kilogram per day.
Pipat said people could receive a maximum of over 25 milligrams per day of melamine compound.
source: news.asiaone.com
Fundamental Analysis
MCX CPO futures closed lower on losses in BMD CPO futures at Malaysia.
Lower CIF prices of CPO and Crude soy oil also provided support to bears in the market.
Malaysia traditionally major exporter of refined palm oil; exports of CPO strictly regulated through licenses, quota, to encourage local refining.
According to SGS, palm oil exports in the first 10 days of October declined by around 11.7% to 346,579 tonnes in comparison with the same period in September. The exports are below market expectation of 375,000 tonnes.
Technical Analysis
CPO Prices (MCX Nov Contract) closed lower at 298.00 on Wednesday; from its high of the day (305.10) and touched a low of 298.
Prices closed below its 10 Days & its 20 Days EMA. 14-Days RSI is at 27.71.
Prices are likely to trade sideways down with short-term and support and Resistance.
OutlookCrude palm oil futures are expected to trade lower on sharp fall in BMD CPO futures. Sharp fall in crude oil prices are also in favor of bears on bio-diesel concerned.Courtesy: Angel Commodities
source: commodityonline.com
Lower CIF prices of CPO and Crude soy oil also provided support to bears in the market.
Malaysia traditionally major exporter of refined palm oil; exports of CPO strictly regulated through licenses, quota, to encourage local refining.
According to SGS, palm oil exports in the first 10 days of October declined by around 11.7% to 346,579 tonnes in comparison with the same period in September. The exports are below market expectation of 375,000 tonnes.
Technical Analysis
CPO Prices (MCX Nov Contract) closed lower at 298.00 on Wednesday; from its high of the day (305.10) and touched a low of 298.
Prices closed below its 10 Days & its 20 Days EMA. 14-Days RSI is at 27.71.
Prices are likely to trade sideways down with short-term and support and Resistance.
OutlookCrude palm oil futures are expected to trade lower on sharp fall in BMD CPO futures. Sharp fall in crude oil prices are also in favor of bears on bio-diesel concerned.Courtesy: Angel Commodities
source: commodityonline.com
ANJLOKNYA HARGA SAWIT, Dishub Riau Ngaku Tak Mampu Berbuat Apa-Apa
16 Oct 2008 15:37 wibad
PEKANBARU (RiauInfo) - Harapan para petani sawit agar pemerintah dapat turun tangan dalam menghadapi makin anjloknya harga buah sawit ternyata hanya tinggal harapan. Pihak pemerintah melalu Dinas Perkbunan Riau menyatakan tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa dalam menghadapi masalah ini.
Kepala Dinas Perkebunan Riau Susilo mengaku pihaknya tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa dalam menghadapi anjloknya harga sawit dan karet ini. "Kami tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa karena kondisi ini dipengaruhi krisis ekonomi internasional, ditambah dengan masa panen raya di berbagai negara," jelasnya.
Dia mengatakan di tengah situasi seperti saat ini pemerintah daerah tidak bisa memberikan solusi konkrit karena semua kebijakan menjadi hak pemerintah pusat. "Kita hanya bisa berdoa semoga krisis ini cepat berakhir sehingga harga sawit dan karet normal kembali," tambahnya.
Namun begitu Susilo telah mengingatkan para pemilik Pabtik Kelapa Sawit (PKS) bisa bersikap bijak dengan tidak menolak membeli buah sawit masyarakat. Jika ada ada PKS yang menolak sawit tanpa alasan yang jelas akan mendapat teguran keras dari instansinya.
Ketika ditanya sampai kapan kondisi ini akan berlangsung, Susilo mengatakan tidak bisa dipastikan kapan berakhirnya, bisa saja sampai beberapa bulan ke depan. Karena itu dia minta para petani bisa memenej keuangannya dengan baik, sehingga kondisi ini tidak membuat mereka bangkrut.(ad)
source: riauinfo.com
PEKANBARU (RiauInfo) - Harapan para petani sawit agar pemerintah dapat turun tangan dalam menghadapi makin anjloknya harga buah sawit ternyata hanya tinggal harapan. Pihak pemerintah melalu Dinas Perkbunan Riau menyatakan tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa dalam menghadapi masalah ini.
Kepala Dinas Perkebunan Riau Susilo mengaku pihaknya tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa dalam menghadapi anjloknya harga sawit dan karet ini. "Kami tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa karena kondisi ini dipengaruhi krisis ekonomi internasional, ditambah dengan masa panen raya di berbagai negara," jelasnya.
Dia mengatakan di tengah situasi seperti saat ini pemerintah daerah tidak bisa memberikan solusi konkrit karena semua kebijakan menjadi hak pemerintah pusat. "Kita hanya bisa berdoa semoga krisis ini cepat berakhir sehingga harga sawit dan karet normal kembali," tambahnya.
Namun begitu Susilo telah mengingatkan para pemilik Pabtik Kelapa Sawit (PKS) bisa bersikap bijak dengan tidak menolak membeli buah sawit masyarakat. Jika ada ada PKS yang menolak sawit tanpa alasan yang jelas akan mendapat teguran keras dari instansinya.
Ketika ditanya sampai kapan kondisi ini akan berlangsung, Susilo mengatakan tidak bisa dipastikan kapan berakhirnya, bisa saja sampai beberapa bulan ke depan. Karena itu dia minta para petani bisa memenej keuangannya dengan baik, sehingga kondisi ini tidak membuat mereka bangkrut.(ad)
source: riauinfo.com
Muba Gagas Agrowisata Karet dan Sawit
Pariwisata
Kamis, 16 Oktober 2008 01:06 WIB
Musi Banyuasin, Kompas - Pemerintah Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin sudah menggagas dan sedang mendesain program pembangunan kawasan agrowisata perkebunan karet dan kelapa sawit. Untuk mewujudkan gagasan tersebut, Pemerintah Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin berharap adanya sharing atau kerja sama pendanaan untuk membangun infrastruktur.
Bupati Musi Banyuasin (Muba) Pahri Azahri mengatakan hal tersebut seusai kegiatan Implementasi Proyek Mekanisme Bersih di lokasi pabrik sawit dan karet PT Pinago Utama di Desa Sugih Waras, Kecamatan Babat Toman, Kabupaten Muba, Sumatera Selatan, Rabu (15/10).
Menurut Pahri, gagasan membangun agrowisata karet dan kelapa sawit tersebut bertujuan untuk menggeliatkan kembali sektor pariwisata di Kabupaten Muba. Dia menilai keberadaan sektor pariwisata ini saling terkait dengan sektor ekonomi dan pendidikan.
”Kalau sebuah masyarakat memiliki sistem ekonomi yang mapan, pendidikan yang maju, dan pariwisata yang baik, maka bisa dibayangkan sendiri dampaknya bagi Muba,” katanya.
Di sisi lain, gagasan itu juga untuk mewujudkan jargon ”Muba Smart 2012” yang selama ini menjadi acuan bagi masyarakat dan Pemerintah Kabupaten Muba. Menurut Pahri, Kabupaten Muba memiliki potensi yang sangat besar di sektor perkebunan dengan jenis komoditas karet dan kelapa sawit tersebut.
”Hampir 80 persen wilayah geografis Kabupaten Muba terdiri dari kawasan perkebunan karet dan kelapa sawit. Selain menopang sektor ekonomi, mengapa hal itu tidak sekalian dimanfaatkan untuk mengembangkan pariwisata,” katanya.
Secara khusus, Pahri menjelaskan, kemungkinan proyek percontohan dari ide ini akan dilaksanakan di kawasan PT Pinago Utama dengan pertimbangan kesiapan yang paling mantap. Nantinya, proyek pengembangan infrastruktur agrowisata karet dan kelapa sawit ini akan berupa pembangunan jalan, jembatan, penataan lingkungan menjadi hijau, dan pembenahan fasilitas umum-sosial.
Direktur Utama PT Pinago Utama Wilson S menjelaskan, pihaknya siap mendukung gagasan Pemerintah Kabupaten Muba tersebut, terutama pada sektor agrowisata. Dia menilai program agrowisata karet dan kelapa sawit justru akan menguntungkan perusahaan karena fasilitas dan infrastrukturnya juga akan dibangun dengan baik. (ONI)
Kamis, 16 Oktober 2008 01:06 WIB
Musi Banyuasin, Kompas - Pemerintah Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin sudah menggagas dan sedang mendesain program pembangunan kawasan agrowisata perkebunan karet dan kelapa sawit. Untuk mewujudkan gagasan tersebut, Pemerintah Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin berharap adanya sharing atau kerja sama pendanaan untuk membangun infrastruktur.
Bupati Musi Banyuasin (Muba) Pahri Azahri mengatakan hal tersebut seusai kegiatan Implementasi Proyek Mekanisme Bersih di lokasi pabrik sawit dan karet PT Pinago Utama di Desa Sugih Waras, Kecamatan Babat Toman, Kabupaten Muba, Sumatera Selatan, Rabu (15/10).
Menurut Pahri, gagasan membangun agrowisata karet dan kelapa sawit tersebut bertujuan untuk menggeliatkan kembali sektor pariwisata di Kabupaten Muba. Dia menilai keberadaan sektor pariwisata ini saling terkait dengan sektor ekonomi dan pendidikan.
”Kalau sebuah masyarakat memiliki sistem ekonomi yang mapan, pendidikan yang maju, dan pariwisata yang baik, maka bisa dibayangkan sendiri dampaknya bagi Muba,” katanya.
Di sisi lain, gagasan itu juga untuk mewujudkan jargon ”Muba Smart 2012” yang selama ini menjadi acuan bagi masyarakat dan Pemerintah Kabupaten Muba. Menurut Pahri, Kabupaten Muba memiliki potensi yang sangat besar di sektor perkebunan dengan jenis komoditas karet dan kelapa sawit tersebut.
”Hampir 80 persen wilayah geografis Kabupaten Muba terdiri dari kawasan perkebunan karet dan kelapa sawit. Selain menopang sektor ekonomi, mengapa hal itu tidak sekalian dimanfaatkan untuk mengembangkan pariwisata,” katanya.
Secara khusus, Pahri menjelaskan, kemungkinan proyek percontohan dari ide ini akan dilaksanakan di kawasan PT Pinago Utama dengan pertimbangan kesiapan yang paling mantap. Nantinya, proyek pengembangan infrastruktur agrowisata karet dan kelapa sawit ini akan berupa pembangunan jalan, jembatan, penataan lingkungan menjadi hijau, dan pembenahan fasilitas umum-sosial.
Direktur Utama PT Pinago Utama Wilson S menjelaskan, pihaknya siap mendukung gagasan Pemerintah Kabupaten Muba tersebut, terutama pada sektor agrowisata. Dia menilai program agrowisata karet dan kelapa sawit justru akan menguntungkan perusahaan karena fasilitas dan infrastrukturnya juga akan dibangun dengan baik. (ONI)
DPR DESAK PEMERINTAH ATASI KELANGSUNGAN HIDUP PETANI SAWIT
Rabu, 15 Oktober 2008
JAKARTA (MMF) - Asosiasi Petani Kelapa Sawit Indonesia (APKASINDO) meniai kebijakan pemerintah memberlakukan Pungutan Ekspor (PE) Crude Palm Oil (CPO) secara progresif dalam pelaksanaan ekspor COPO dinilai sangat merugikan petani dan eksportir Indonesia.
Demikian diungkapkan oleh Sekjen DPP APKASINDO Asmar Arsjad saat audiensi dengan komisi IV DPR RI yang membidangi masalah perkebunan, pertanian, kehutanan, Rabu (15/10) di gedung DPR/MPR RI, Jakarta.
Diungkapkan APKASINDO, PE CPO yang berlaku saat ini sebesar 7,5 persen dari harga rata-rata CPO Rotterdam USD 610/MT (Matriks Ton) menyebabkan harga Tandan Buah Segar (TBS) kelapa sawit di tungkat petani sebesar pukul rataRp600/kg, sementar harga pokok petani Rp800/kg TBS. "Artinya petani mengalami kerugian sebesar Rp200/kg. Kondisi ini tidak bisa dipertahankan dengan dalih apapun, " ujar Asmar.
Menurut Asmar yang didampingi oleh Gapkasino Sumut, petani Riau dan Petani Jambi, pihaknya telah berulang kali menghimbau pemerintah agar PE CPO tidak diberlakukan secara progrresif dan maksimal pemerintah hanya memberlakukan PE CPO sebesar 5 persen. Disamping itu dana PE yang sekarang ditengarai terkumpul Rp25 triliun, hendaknya dikembalikan kepada petani dan stakeholder lainnya secara proporsional.
Anggota komisi IV DPR RI dari Fraksi Partai Golkar Azwar Chesputra berpendapat Anjloknya harga sawit saat ini karena dampak krisis keuangan dunia, ditambah lagi dengan adanya kebijaksanaan Pemerintah menaikkan pajak ekspor progresif. Akibatnya banyak produksi sawit di tingkat petani tidak bisa terjual dengan tertumpuk begitu saja. Selain itu juga diakibatkan panen raya berbagai tanaman kompetitor sawit di dunia, diperparah dengan ketidakmampuan pabrik kelapa sawit menampung hasil sawit petani.
Hingga saat ini, pemerintah belum bisa menanggulangi anjloknya harga sawit. Padahal Pemerintah harus mempertimbangkan untuk mencabut pajak ekspor progresif atau dengan menurunkannya hingga 0 persen
"Hendaknya dengan kondisi tersebut Pemerintah segera bergerak cepat mengambil langkah-langkah penyelamatan secara jangka pendek dan menengah akibat gejolak harga tersebut, " ujar Azwar Chesputra
Dampak merosotnya harga sawit secara drastis juga menyebabkan para petani sawit di Riau sangat terpukul. Pasalnya mereka yang sebelumnya menikmat harga sawit hingga Rp2000/kg, kini mereka harus gigit jari karena harga sawit anjlok hingga Rp 680/kg. Akibatnya petani sawit kini mengeluh atas harga TBS yang anjlok, sementara harga pupuk dan sapradi lainnya terus meningkat.
"Para petani kepala sawit kini menunda panen TBS karena hanya memperoleh untung tipis. Bahkan para petani kelapa sawit tidak memupuk sawitnya karena mahalnya pupuk, " ujarnya.
Ditambahkan Azwar, saat ini jumlah kebun kelapa sawit di Riau telah mencapai sekitar 50 persen yang dimiliki dan dikelola oleh petani-petani kelas bawah yang hanya memiliki satu atau dua hektar kebun sawit. Berbeda dengan petani, pengusaha transportasi justru memanfaatkan hujan dan isu kenaikan harga dengan menaikkan tarif sebesar 15 persen. "Pemerintah harus segera menanggulangi anjloknya harga sawit. Jika dibiarkan, dua hingga tiga bulan ke depan petani sawit Riau benar benar gulung tikar, " katanya. (aR/bmb)
source: mambangmit.com
JAKARTA (MMF) - Asosiasi Petani Kelapa Sawit Indonesia (APKASINDO) meniai kebijakan pemerintah memberlakukan Pungutan Ekspor (PE) Crude Palm Oil (CPO) secara progresif dalam pelaksanaan ekspor COPO dinilai sangat merugikan petani dan eksportir Indonesia.
Demikian diungkapkan oleh Sekjen DPP APKASINDO Asmar Arsjad saat audiensi dengan komisi IV DPR RI yang membidangi masalah perkebunan, pertanian, kehutanan, Rabu (15/10) di gedung DPR/MPR RI, Jakarta.
Diungkapkan APKASINDO, PE CPO yang berlaku saat ini sebesar 7,5 persen dari harga rata-rata CPO Rotterdam USD 610/MT (Matriks Ton) menyebabkan harga Tandan Buah Segar (TBS) kelapa sawit di tungkat petani sebesar pukul rataRp600/kg, sementar harga pokok petani Rp800/kg TBS. "Artinya petani mengalami kerugian sebesar Rp200/kg. Kondisi ini tidak bisa dipertahankan dengan dalih apapun, " ujar Asmar.
Menurut Asmar yang didampingi oleh Gapkasino Sumut, petani Riau dan Petani Jambi, pihaknya telah berulang kali menghimbau pemerintah agar PE CPO tidak diberlakukan secara progrresif dan maksimal pemerintah hanya memberlakukan PE CPO sebesar 5 persen. Disamping itu dana PE yang sekarang ditengarai terkumpul Rp25 triliun, hendaknya dikembalikan kepada petani dan stakeholder lainnya secara proporsional.
Anggota komisi IV DPR RI dari Fraksi Partai Golkar Azwar Chesputra berpendapat Anjloknya harga sawit saat ini karena dampak krisis keuangan dunia, ditambah lagi dengan adanya kebijaksanaan Pemerintah menaikkan pajak ekspor progresif. Akibatnya banyak produksi sawit di tingkat petani tidak bisa terjual dengan tertumpuk begitu saja. Selain itu juga diakibatkan panen raya berbagai tanaman kompetitor sawit di dunia, diperparah dengan ketidakmampuan pabrik kelapa sawit menampung hasil sawit petani.
Hingga saat ini, pemerintah belum bisa menanggulangi anjloknya harga sawit. Padahal Pemerintah harus mempertimbangkan untuk mencabut pajak ekspor progresif atau dengan menurunkannya hingga 0 persen
"Hendaknya dengan kondisi tersebut Pemerintah segera bergerak cepat mengambil langkah-langkah penyelamatan secara jangka pendek dan menengah akibat gejolak harga tersebut, " ujar Azwar Chesputra
Dampak merosotnya harga sawit secara drastis juga menyebabkan para petani sawit di Riau sangat terpukul. Pasalnya mereka yang sebelumnya menikmat harga sawit hingga Rp2000/kg, kini mereka harus gigit jari karena harga sawit anjlok hingga Rp 680/kg. Akibatnya petani sawit kini mengeluh atas harga TBS yang anjlok, sementara harga pupuk dan sapradi lainnya terus meningkat.
"Para petani kepala sawit kini menunda panen TBS karena hanya memperoleh untung tipis. Bahkan para petani kelapa sawit tidak memupuk sawitnya karena mahalnya pupuk, " ujarnya.
Ditambahkan Azwar, saat ini jumlah kebun kelapa sawit di Riau telah mencapai sekitar 50 persen yang dimiliki dan dikelola oleh petani-petani kelas bawah yang hanya memiliki satu atau dua hektar kebun sawit. Berbeda dengan petani, pengusaha transportasi justru memanfaatkan hujan dan isu kenaikan harga dengan menaikkan tarif sebesar 15 persen. "Pemerintah harus segera menanggulangi anjloknya harga sawit. Jika dibiarkan, dua hingga tiga bulan ke depan petani sawit Riau benar benar gulung tikar, " katanya. (aR/bmb)
source: mambangmit.com
Harga TBS Sawit Diperkirakan Terus Merosot
Kamis, 16 Oktober 2008 06:22 WIB
BENGKULU--MI: Harga kelapa sawit (tandan buah segar-TBS) diperkirakan akan terus turun menyusul anjloknya harga minyak sawit mentah (crude palm oil-CPO) di pasar dunia.
"Perkiraan kita pakan depan harga TBS akan turun lagi hingga pada kisaran Rp550/Kg di tingkat pabrik/perusahaan," kata Dayari, perwakilan dari PT Bio Nusantara, sebuah perusahaan pekebunan sawit swasta, saat rapat membahas harga TBS bersama Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Bengkulu, Rabu (15/10).
Ia menjelaskan, harga CPO saat ini masih pada posisi Rp4.285 Kg, namun sudah ada yang menawar lebih rendah yakni berkisar Rp3.600-Rp3.700/Kg. Rendahnya penawaran itu menjadi indikasi harga CPO akan terus turun. Jika harga CPO turun, kata dia, maka harga TBS pun dengan sendirinya akan ikut turun.
Direktur Kebun PT Agricinal, Dapot Sitompul juga menyatakan hal yang sama, terkait harga CPO dan TBS itu. Menurut dia, penurunan harga CPO di pasar dunia itu tidak terlepas dari terjadinya krisis keuangan di Amerika Serikat.
Sitompul juga mengeluhkan, kualias TBS yang berasal dari perkebunan petani setempat.
"Masyarakat kadang menjual TBS asal saja, banyak diantaranya yang sudah busuk, sehingga mempengaruhi kulitas CPO. Kita dari perusahaan kadang serba salah," katanya.
Harga beli TBS oleh perusahaan perkebunan di daerah itu dari para petani saat ini bervariasi. Harga pembelian tertinggi diberikan oleh PT Agricinal yakni Rp730/Kg,kemudian PT Bio Nusantara Rp670/Kg, PT Puding Mas Rp660/Kg, PT Daria DharmaPratama Rp650/Kg dan PT Agri Andalas Rp600/Kg.
Kelapa sawit merupakan komiditi andalan Provinsi Bengkulu. Luas perkebunan sawit di daerah itu sekitar 150 ribu hakter (Ha), dan 90.898 Ha di antaranya milik masyarakat, sisanya dikelola oleh perusahaan baik BUMN maupun swasta.
Pemerintah Provinsi Bengkulu juga akan melaksanakan program revitalisasi perkebunan kelapa sawit seluas 60 ribu Ha, dalam dua tahap. Tahap awal seluas 23 ribu Ha segera direalisasikan dengan pembiayaan berasal dari Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) sebesar Rp621 miliar, dengan asumsi biaya Rp27 juta per Ha. (Ant/OL-02)
source: mediaindonesia.com
BENGKULU--MI: Harga kelapa sawit (tandan buah segar-TBS) diperkirakan akan terus turun menyusul anjloknya harga minyak sawit mentah (crude palm oil-CPO) di pasar dunia.
"Perkiraan kita pakan depan harga TBS akan turun lagi hingga pada kisaran Rp550/Kg di tingkat pabrik/perusahaan," kata Dayari, perwakilan dari PT Bio Nusantara, sebuah perusahaan pekebunan sawit swasta, saat rapat membahas harga TBS bersama Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Bengkulu, Rabu (15/10).
Ia menjelaskan, harga CPO saat ini masih pada posisi Rp4.285 Kg, namun sudah ada yang menawar lebih rendah yakni berkisar Rp3.600-Rp3.700/Kg. Rendahnya penawaran itu menjadi indikasi harga CPO akan terus turun. Jika harga CPO turun, kata dia, maka harga TBS pun dengan sendirinya akan ikut turun.
Direktur Kebun PT Agricinal, Dapot Sitompul juga menyatakan hal yang sama, terkait harga CPO dan TBS itu. Menurut dia, penurunan harga CPO di pasar dunia itu tidak terlepas dari terjadinya krisis keuangan di Amerika Serikat.
Sitompul juga mengeluhkan, kualias TBS yang berasal dari perkebunan petani setempat.
"Masyarakat kadang menjual TBS asal saja, banyak diantaranya yang sudah busuk, sehingga mempengaruhi kulitas CPO. Kita dari perusahaan kadang serba salah," katanya.
Harga beli TBS oleh perusahaan perkebunan di daerah itu dari para petani saat ini bervariasi. Harga pembelian tertinggi diberikan oleh PT Agricinal yakni Rp730/Kg,kemudian PT Bio Nusantara Rp670/Kg, PT Puding Mas Rp660/Kg, PT Daria DharmaPratama Rp650/Kg dan PT Agri Andalas Rp600/Kg.
Kelapa sawit merupakan komiditi andalan Provinsi Bengkulu. Luas perkebunan sawit di daerah itu sekitar 150 ribu hakter (Ha), dan 90.898 Ha di antaranya milik masyarakat, sisanya dikelola oleh perusahaan baik BUMN maupun swasta.
Pemerintah Provinsi Bengkulu juga akan melaksanakan program revitalisasi perkebunan kelapa sawit seluas 60 ribu Ha, dalam dua tahap. Tahap awal seluas 23 ribu Ha segera direalisasikan dengan pembiayaan berasal dari Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) sebesar Rp621 miliar, dengan asumsi biaya Rp27 juta per Ha. (Ant/OL-02)
source: mediaindonesia.com
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Labels:
China,
CPO,
Gabungan Kelapa Sawit Indonesia,
India,
Labuhan Batu,
Sumatera Utara,
TBS
Labels:
China,
CPO,
Gabungan Kelapa Sawit Indonesia,
India,
Labuhan Batu,
Sumatera Utara,
TBS
Renewed selling of blue chips drags down KLCI
Thursday October 16, 2008
By IZWAN IDRIS and YVONNE TAN
PETALING JAYA: Stocks on Bursa Malaysia tumbled yesterday, dragged down by renewed sell-off on blue-chip firms like KNM Group Bhd and IOI Corp Bhd amid worries that falling commodity prices and weaker global growth outlook will hurt earnings.
The KL Composite Index dropped 16.18 points, or 1.7%, to 949.88 points yesterday, which also reflected declines in other regional markets. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index was down 5% and stocks in Singapore fell 3.2%.
Almost all major markets in Asia were lower with shares in South Korea down 2%, while Australian stocks lost 0.8%. In Indonesia, the Jakarta Composite Index retreated 2.2%.
Shares in Japan reversed early losses to end up 1%, rising on the back of a massive 14% jump on Tuesday.
“Investors are pricing in a much slower earnings growth next year,’’ said a fund manager at a local asset management firm.
“Concerns over global recession weigh heavily on the market and this will limit stocks’ upside potential in the near term,” he added.
Shares in KNM, one of the country’s biggest oil and gas fabricators, plunged 21.5 sen, or 24%, yesterday to 69 sen with 154 million shares transacted.
Yesterday’s market volume was 572 million shares.
Analysts said the huge sell-down on KNM was partly due to worries the company was facing a tougher operating environment owing to falling crude oil prices.
Filings with Bursa Malaysia showed the group’s major shareholders, including foreign funds, had aggressively trimmed down their holdings in KNM in recent weeks.
Crude oil in New York yesterday fell to below US$77 per barrel on concerns demand would falter as the financial crisis crippled global economic growth. The crude oil price had plummeted 47% from its peak of US$147 per barrel three months ago.
KNM told Bursa Malaysia yesterday it had accepted Malayan Banking Bhd’s (Maybank) offer of a three-year term loan worth 150 million euros to settle the bridging loan granted by Maybank for the acquisition of German-based Borsig GmbH.
The takeover was completed on June 6.
Meanwhile, IOI Corp’s share price hit a new two-year low yesterday, down 16 sen, or 4.5%, at RM3.36. It was the second most heavily-traded stock after KNM with 23.39 million shares changing hands.
Shares in IOI Corp, along with big palm oil producers like Sime Darby Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, have been under pressure in the past months on declining crude plam oil (CPO) prices.
On Bursa Derivatives, the benchmark third-month contract for CPO fell RM107 to RM1,743 per tonne €“ its lowest since mid-November 2006. Palm oil prices have fallen 43% year-to-date.
Another big loser was Public Bank Bhd, which saw its share price fall 15 sen, or 1.7%, to RM8.90.
Public Bank, currently the biggest bank in terms of market value, said on Tuesday its third-quarter net profit rose 13%, but added that the operating environment would be “more challenging” in the coming months as the local economy was expected to soften in the last quarter and in 2009.
The market will also keep an eye on Tenaga Nasional Bhd today, which is expected to release its results for the financial year ended Aug 31 after the stock market closes.
source: biz.thestar.com.my
By IZWAN IDRIS and YVONNE TAN
PETALING JAYA: Stocks on Bursa Malaysia tumbled yesterday, dragged down by renewed sell-off on blue-chip firms like KNM Group Bhd and IOI Corp Bhd amid worries that falling commodity prices and weaker global growth outlook will hurt earnings.
The KL Composite Index dropped 16.18 points, or 1.7%, to 949.88 points yesterday, which also reflected declines in other regional markets. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index was down 5% and stocks in Singapore fell 3.2%.
Almost all major markets in Asia were lower with shares in South Korea down 2%, while Australian stocks lost 0.8%. In Indonesia, the Jakarta Composite Index retreated 2.2%.
Shares in Japan reversed early losses to end up 1%, rising on the back of a massive 14% jump on Tuesday.
“Investors are pricing in a much slower earnings growth next year,’’ said a fund manager at a local asset management firm.
“Concerns over global recession weigh heavily on the market and this will limit stocks’ upside potential in the near term,” he added.
Shares in KNM, one of the country’s biggest oil and gas fabricators, plunged 21.5 sen, or 24%, yesterday to 69 sen with 154 million shares transacted.
Yesterday’s market volume was 572 million shares.
Analysts said the huge sell-down on KNM was partly due to worries the company was facing a tougher operating environment owing to falling crude oil prices.
Filings with Bursa Malaysia showed the group’s major shareholders, including foreign funds, had aggressively trimmed down their holdings in KNM in recent weeks.
Crude oil in New York yesterday fell to below US$77 per barrel on concerns demand would falter as the financial crisis crippled global economic growth. The crude oil price had plummeted 47% from its peak of US$147 per barrel three months ago.
KNM told Bursa Malaysia yesterday it had accepted Malayan Banking Bhd’s (Maybank) offer of a three-year term loan worth 150 million euros to settle the bridging loan granted by Maybank for the acquisition of German-based Borsig GmbH.
The takeover was completed on June 6.
Meanwhile, IOI Corp’s share price hit a new two-year low yesterday, down 16 sen, or 4.5%, at RM3.36. It was the second most heavily-traded stock after KNM with 23.39 million shares changing hands.
Shares in IOI Corp, along with big palm oil producers like Sime Darby Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, have been under pressure in the past months on declining crude plam oil (CPO) prices.
On Bursa Derivatives, the benchmark third-month contract for CPO fell RM107 to RM1,743 per tonne €“ its lowest since mid-November 2006. Palm oil prices have fallen 43% year-to-date.
Another big loser was Public Bank Bhd, which saw its share price fall 15 sen, or 1.7%, to RM8.90.
Public Bank, currently the biggest bank in terms of market value, said on Tuesday its third-quarter net profit rose 13%, but added that the operating environment would be “more challenging” in the coming months as the local economy was expected to soften in the last quarter and in 2009.
The market will also keep an eye on Tenaga Nasional Bhd today, which is expected to release its results for the financial year ended Aug 31 after the stock market closes.
source: biz.thestar.com.my
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