CPO Futures End Higher On Rally In CBOT Soybean Oil

By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Crude palm oil (CPO) futures ended higher on Thursday, after a two-day holiday following a rally in Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean oil and energy futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Mumbai-based Sunvin Group commodity research head Anilkumar Bagani told Bernama that CPO futures are playing catch-up to vegetable oil price action in related markets that occurred during Malaysian holidays.

“The focus now will be on the Feb 1–20, 2026, palm oil export data and the production outlook, which could provide clearer direction for prices in the near term,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics senior analyst Sathia Varqa said soybean oil futures on the CME rose on speculation of rising soybean oil demand under the United States biodiesel programme following the imminent submission by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the White House.

“Export estimates for Feb 1–15, 2026, showed a decline compared with the same period in January.

“According to AmSpec Agri Malaysia (AMSPEC), palm oil exports fell to 587,431 tonnes from 690,642 tonnes previously, a decrease of 103,211 tonnes or 14.94 per cent,” he said.

At the close, the March 2026 contract rose RM80 to RM4,093 per tonne, April 2026 increased RM94 to RM4,114 per tonne, and May 2026 added RM101 to RM4,117 per tonne.

Jun 2026 contract climbed RM105 to RM4,116 per tonne, July 2026 surged RM103 to RM4,111 per tonne, while August 2026 soared RM106 to RM4,108 per tonne.

Trading volume jumped to 72,636 lots from 40,371 on Monday, while open interest edged down to 223,809 from 225,359 previously.

The physical CPO price for March South fell RM80 to RM4,120 per tonne.

-- BERNAMA