TRADING UPDATES: REA Production Dips But Sees Stronger Second Half Mon, 1st Feb 2021 21:26 (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News: REA Holdings PLC - crude palm oil producer - Harvests 785,850 tonnes of of fresh fruit bunches in 2020, down from 800,666 tonnes in 2019. A further 181,515 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches were third party harvested, taking the total to 971,365 tonnes from 999,403 tonnes the prior year including 198,737 from a third party. Annually, 948,261 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches were processed, down from 979,411 tonnes year-on-year. Crude palm oil production dipped to 213,536 tonnes from 224,856 tonnes. Production of palm kernels rose, however, to 47,186 tonnes from 46,326 tonnes with crude palm kernel oil production up at 16,164 tonnes from 15,305 tonnes. Extraction rates for crude palm oil dipped to 22.5% from 23.0% while palm kernel extraction rose to 5.0% from 4.7%. The crude palm kernel oil extraction rate fell to 39.5% from 40.7%. Across REA's estates, average rainfall rose to 2,061 millimetres from 3,057 millimetres. Crude palm oil prices dropped to USD510 per tonne in May from USD860 per tonne January 1 but began to recover and closed 2020 at USD940 per tonnes. Expects to post higher earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in its second half compared to its USD11.2 million interim Ebitda. However, strengthening of the Indonesian rupiah and sterling against the US dollar will likely mean a reversal of gains booked in the first half. In talks with banks for further financing, as currently has debt of USD39.8 million due for repayment in 2021 and 2022 and is due to repay USD27.0 million of US dollar notes at June end.