Palm Oil Rebounds to One-Month High

2026-03-05 05:13 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

Malaysian palm oil futures hovered above MYR 4,200 per tonne on Thursday, swinging from the prior session’s modest dip to notch a one-month peak.

Firmer soyoil prices on the Chicago market boosted sentiment, along with strength in energy markets as prolonged Middle East tensions raised fears that crude prices could stay elevated.

Demand prospects also strengthened after palm oil imports in top buyer India rose 10.1% mom in February to a six-month top, aided by wider discounts to rival edible oils.

Meantime, Reuters projected Malaysia’s stocks fell for a second month to a four-month low in February, with seasonal output declines outweighing weaker exports.

Still, gains were capped by cargo surveyors noting February shipments down 21.5%–22.5% from January despite Eid al-Fitr buying.

In China, a key consumer, the 2026 GDP growth target was set at a milder 4.5%–5%, the first downgrade since 2023, stoking concerns that slower momentum could weigh on vegetable oil demand, including palm oil.



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Palm Oil Rebounds to One-Month High
Malaysian palm oil futures hovered above MYR 4,200 per tonne on Thursday, swinging from the prior session’s modest dip to notch a one-month peak. Firmer soyoil prices on the Chicago market boosted sentiment, along with strength in energy markets as prolonged Middle East tensions raised fears that crude prices could stay elevated. Demand prospects also strengthened after palm oil imports in top buyer India rose 10.1% mom in February to a six-month top, aided by wider discounts to rival edible oils. Meantime, Reuters projected Malaysia’s stocks fell for a second month to a four-month low in February, with seasonal output declines outweighing weaker exports. Still, gains were capped by cargo surveyors noting February shipments down 21.5%–22.5% from January despite Eid al-Fitr buying. In China, a key consumer, the 2026 GDP growth target was set at a milder 4.5%–5%, the first downgrade since 2023, stoking concerns that slower momentum could weigh on vegetable oil demand, including palm oil.
2026-03-05
Palm Oil Retreats After Three-Day Gains
Malaysian palm oil futures slipped below MYR 4,180 per tonne on Wednesday, snapping a three-session winning streak amid weaker soyoil prices on the Dalian and Chicago markets. Profit-taking added pressure after contracts hit a near four-week high. Sentiment was further hit by softer export data, with cargo surveyors noting February shipments fell 21.5%–22.5% from January, despite seasonal demand ahead of Eid al-Fitr. In key buyer China, official data showed weaker February activity, partly due to an extended Spring Festival break. Still, losses were capped by a softer ringgit and firmer crude oil prices amid escalating Middle East tensions. In India, the world’s largest consumer, February palm oil imports rose 10.1% mom to a six-month high of 844,000 tonnes, supported by a wider discount to rival oils. Meanwhile, Reuters projected Malaysia’s palm oil stocks likely fell for a second straight month to a four-month low in February, as seasonal output declines outweighed slower exports.
2026-03-04
Bullish Momentum in Palm Oil Continues
Malaysian palm oil futures edged higher on Tuesday, hovering around MYR 4,150 per tonne and marking the third straight session of gains. A weaker ringgit and firmer edible oil markets in Dalian and Chicago supported sentiment. Also, crude oil’s rally amid escalating U.S.–Israeli tensions with Iran added further support. In top buyer India, February palm oil imports rose 10.1% mom to a six-month high of 844,000 tonnes, due to restocking demand. Meantime, Indonesia, the world's largest producer, reported January crude and refined palm oil exports surging 77.1% yoy, while raising crude palm oil export levy to 12.5% of the reference price to fund its biodiesel mandate. On the export front, however, cargo surveyors noted that February shipments fell between 21.5% to 22.5% from January, despite seasonal demand ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebration. Caution also lingered ahead of PMI data in China, the key buyer, with concerns that Spring Festival disruptions weighed on business activity.
2026-03-03