Palm tracks rival soya oil higher; but gains curbed by inventory, output rise

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIAN palm oil futures firmed on Tuesday, after three straight sessions of losses tracking rival soya oil higher, though higher-than-expected inventories and production weighed on sentiment and capped further gains.

The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose RM25 (S$8.11), or 0.68 per cent, to RM3,675 a tonne by the midday break, after falling 3 per cent in the previous session.

Malaysia's end-March palm oil stocks jumped more than expected to a four-month high, boosted by higher imports and production, but higher exports kept domestic supply in check, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board reported on Monday.

April production will continue to grow 11 per cent month-on-month and exports are expected to rise 18 per cent due to the upcoming Eid festival and potential stockpiling in China and India, Adrian Kok, equity analyst at Kenanga Investment Bank said in a note.

"We expect total supply to outstrip total demand leading to higher ending stocks of 1.53 million tonnes," he added.

On Monday, Refinitiv Agriculture Research said the contract would trend lower to test support levels of RM3,540-3,560 a tonne this week, with resistance levels at RM3,780-3,800 amid high volatility.

The weakness is mainly due to higher crop output and rising inventories in Malaysia, lower soyabean futures because of higher-than-expected global inventory estimates, and bearish news from the biodiesel market, Refinitiv said.

The Brazilian government temporarily cut its biodiesel blending requirement for diesel fuel to 10 per cent from 13 per cent, said a Mines and Energy Ministry statement on Friday that cited strong demand for soya as a reason for the decision.

Dalian's most-active soya oil contract fell 0.3 per cent, while its palm oil contract declined 1 per cent. Soya oil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were up 0.4 per cent.

Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market. REUTERS