Asian CPO Ends Down On Rising Stocks; Off Lows On Crude Oil
KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Crude palm oil futures on Malaysia's derivatives exchange eased lower Tuesday amid selling pressure, rising inventories and sluggish exports, trade participants said. The benchmark January contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives settled down MYR48, or 2.2% lower, at MYR2,170 a metric ton, after moving in a narrow MYR2,152-MYR2,200/ton range.
Prices were mostly stuck in sideways trade for most of the trading session, but late profit-taking and long liquidation pushed prices to fall as much as 3% to MYR2,152. Traders are expecting Malaysia' palm oil output this month to outpace export demand, rising at least 15% higher from September's production of 1.56 million tons.
Sluggish exports may push Malaysia's end-month palm oil stocks to 1.6 million-1.8 million tons, said an executive from Malaysia-based plantation company. Indonesia's stocks are expected to be even higher, rising above 2 million tons, said a Singapore-based trading executive.
"Investors lack confidence and are liquidating positions," said a trader in Kuala Lumpur. He pegged support at MYR2,150, then MYR2,108 in the near term. But prices were supported by strengthening crude oil prices during Asian trading hours, while Tuesday's fall widened CPO's discount to soyoil prices, traders said.
After closing $1.82 lower overnight on the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude for December delivery rebounded 30 cents higher to $78.98 a barrel at 1012 GMT.
In the cash market, cash palm olein for January/February/March shipment was earlier traded at $685/ton and $687.50/ton and April/May/June was traded free on board Malaysian ports, a Singapore-based trading executive said. Cash CPO for prompt shipment was offered MYR30 lower at MYR2,190/ton. A total of 12,926 lots of CPO were traded on the BMD, versus 9,918 lots Monday.
The open interest stood at 82,439 lots Tuesday, down from 82,582 lots. One lot is equivalent to 25 tons. Closing BMD CPO futures prices in MYR/ton at 1000 GMT:
Month Close Previous Change High Low
Nov 09 2,167 2,218 -51 2,194 2,164
Dec 09 2,167 2,218 -51 2,193 2,150
Jan 10 2,170 2,218 -48 2,200 2,152
Feb 10 2,172 2,214 -42 2,203 2,159