Asian Crude Palm Oil Ends Up On Exports, Recovery In Crude (25 Nov, 2009)
(Dow Jones)--Crude palm oil futures on Malaysia's derivatives exchange ended higher Wednesday on speculative buying as investors took leads from higher export estimates and a rebound in crude oil prices.
The benchmark February contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives exchange rose as much as MYR40 or 1.6% to MYR2,518 a metric ton, its highest level since Aug. 13, as Malaysia's palm oil export data for the Nov. 1-25 period by cargo surveyor SGS (Malaysia) Bhd. exceeded market expectations, said trade participants.
The February contract ended MYR3 higher at MYR2,481/ton after trading in a range of MYR2,469-MYR2,518/ton. Trade was a bit choppy in both sessions, typical of holiday trade as some investors rushed to liquidate positions and take profits, traders said. "The BMD market will be closed Friday, while trade in the U.S. will closed for Thanksgiving Thursday. So we're anticipating trade to be choppy on the BMD tomorrow," said a Kuala Lumpur-based trading executive.
Market participants said prices could rise further due to likely lower palm oil output, weather concerns and if crude oil prices rise further. Most traders peg immediate resistance at MYR2,520, then MYR2,600. "The rally in prices may continue well into 2010. The market has turned very positive on palm oil, so any bullish news will be amplified," said Abah Ofon, softs analyst from Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai. "CPO's price trajectory, going forward, would hinge on demand for soybeans. Chinese demand for soybeans isn't going to go away. My view is that China will continue to boost soy stocks," giving support to palm oil prices, said Ofon.
Cargo surveyors estimated Malaysia's palm oil exports up 1.2%-6.4% on month for the Nov. 1-25 period as restocking activity by major buyers China and the European Union boosted export demand. Intertek Agri Services estimated exports to the E.U. during the Nov. 1-25 period at 252,314 tons, up from 224,635 tons a month earlier. Another surveyor, SGS, estimated the Chinese shipments at 311,055 tons, up from 288,250 tons.
At 1032 GMT during the Globex electronic session, light, sweet crude for January delivery was trading 34 cents higher at $76.36 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. December soyoil on the Chicago Board of Trade was trading 25 points higher at 39.95 cents a pound on e-CBOT by the end of trade on the BMD.
In the cash market, cash palm olein for April/May/June was traded from $765/ton to $770/ton, FOB Malaysian ports, said a Singapore-based trading executive. Cash CPO for prompt delivery was offered at MYR2,440/ton. A total of 20,614 lots of CPO were traded on the BMD versus 16,328 lots Tuesday. Open interest was 94,420 lots Wednesday, down from 94,922 lots. One lot is equivalent to 25 tons.