11.   Last year, farm output was severely affected by a prolonged drought and several devastating typhoons.

12.   The company said output also was affected by a March fire at its Richmond, Calif., refinery.

13.   This prolonged dry spell will certainly affect palm output in the next several months.

14.   The worst drought in decades had particularly affected farm output in Jordan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

15.   These officials said, however, that there was no indication if output might be affected.