Asian Crude Palm Oil Ends Down 1.3% On Profit-Taking; May Fall More (22 Jan 2010)
Crude palm oil futures on Malaysia's derivatives exchange ended lower Friday following profit-taking amid fears over tightening of monetary policy by China's and a broad-based selloff in most asset classes.
The benchmark April CPO contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended MYR33 or 1.3% lower at MYR2,488 a metric ton, after trading in a MYR2,447-MYR2,483/ton range.
Prices briefly moved into positive territory in the afternoon amid technically-inspired buying interest, rising to an intraday high of MYR2,483/ton, said a Kuala Lumpur-based broker. But they quickly gave up the gains as a strengthening dollar and fears of waning Chinese palm oil demand pummelled the market, traders said.
Many trade participants said CPO prices may extend the downtrend in the next trading session, with prices likely to fall to MYR2,350-MYR2,400. China's Ministry of Commerce Friday forecast the country's February palm oil purchases may fall 39% from January to 176,147 tons.
News of a rise in exports and talks of a double-digit percentage drop in Malaysia's overall palm oil output for the Jan. 1-20 period supported prices above MYR2,400 in today's trade. An industry body put overall the palm oil output decline at 14% on month in January, with the key oil palm producing state of Sabah registering a sharp decline of 17% for the same period. Exports in the Jan. 1-25 period are being forecast 16%-18% higher at 1.18 million tons, said a cargo executive in Malaysia. Cargo surveyors are likely to announce figures Monday.
Even though prices are off lows, the longer-term view of the vegetable oils market remains bearish, with global stocks estimated to rise 3% in the 2009-10 season year, "setting the scene for another lackluster year of price performance in comparison to recent seasons," according to a Rabobank research note.
In the cash market, palm olein for February was offered April/May/June was traded at $770/ton, July/August/September at $765/ton, a Singapore-based trader said. Cash CPO for prompt delivery was offered MYR20 lower at MYR2,480/ton. Open interest on the BMD was 74,069 lots, down from 73,121 lots traded Wednesday. One lot is equivalent to 25 tons. A total of 18,670 lots of CPO were traded versus 18,226 lots Tuesday.