CPO Futures End Lower Amid Softer Crude Oil Prices

By Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower on Friday amid softer crude oil prices, a trader said.

Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics senior analyst Dr Sathia Varqa said the market has been under pressure since the start of the month, as declining support from crude oil shifted focus back to underlying fundamentals.

At the time of writing, Brent crude dropped 8.59 per cent to US$90.85 per barrel.

“Market participants expect Malaysia’s April production to rise while exports ease, increasing the likelihood of higher inventories, just as production moves into uptrend seasonality,” he told Bernama.

He noted that export data for April 1-15 pointed to weaker demand. Intertek Testing Services (ITS) reported exports falling to 609,868 tonnes from 926,602 tonnes in March 1-15, while AmSpec Agri Malaysia recorded a decline in shipments to 601,401 tonnes from 921,606 tonnes previously.

At the close, the May 2026 contract decreased RM57 to RM4,386 per tonne, June 2026 fell RM54 to RM4,422 per tonne, and July 2026 eased RM45 to RM4,450 per tonne.

The August 2026 contract edged down RM38 to RM4,457 per tonne, September 2026 declined RM34 to RM4,449 per tonne, and October 2026 reduced RM29 to RM4,435 per tonne.

Trading volume increased to 91,998 lots from 78,490 lots on Thursday, while open interest slid to 260,192 contracts from 261,976 contracts yesterday.

The physical CPO price for April South fell RM30 to RM4,460 per tonne.

-- BERNAMA