Malaysian palm oil futures fell sharply on Tuesday, slipping below MYR 4,150 per tonne and reversing modest gains from the prior session. Prices hovered near their lowest level in almost three weeks, pressured by a firmer ringgit and weakness across edible oils on the Dalian exchange. Traders also turned cautious ahead of China’s upcoming CPI and PPI data later this week, given the country’s role as a key palm oil buyer. Losses, however, were partly capped by monthly data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board showing a tighter supply outlook. Palm oil stocks declined 7.72% mom in January, while production dropped 13.78%. At the same time, exports jumped 11.44%. Separately, an industry official noted that Malaysia’s ageing oil palm plantations are projected to expand to 2 million hectares by 2027 from about 1.7 million currently. Meanwhile, demand from top consumer India is expected to recover this year as prices ease, although competition from Chinese soyoil is likely to limit the upside.
