PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian crude palm oil (CPO) futures extended gains for a second consecutive session on Tuesday (Dec 23, 2025), buoyed by firmer global soybean oil prices and signs of improving demand from China, according to Reuters.
The benchmark March 2026 CPO contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose RM16 per metric ton, or 0.4%, to RM4,001 per ton at the midday break. The renewed buying interest followed weeks of volatile price movements that had kept market participants cautious.
Strength in rival vegetable oil markets provided key support. In China, the most-active soybean oil contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange climbed 0.39%, while palm oil futures surged 1.56%. In contrast, soybean oil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade slipped 0.51%, reflecting mixed sentiment across global markets.
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Palm oil prices often track movements in competing vegetable oils, as they vie for market share in the global edible oils market. Additional support came from relatively stable crude oil prices, after global benchmarks jumped more than 2% in the previous session.
Concerns over potential supply disruptions also underpinned sentiment, following comments from the United States regarding possible sales of seized Venezuelan crude oil, as well as Ukraine’s reported attacks on Russian ships and port infrastructure.
Meanwhile, export data offered a mixed picture. Cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services estimated that Malaysia’s palm oil product exports during Dec 1–20 rose 2.4% month-on-month. However, data from AmSpec Agri Malaysia pointed to a 0.87% decline over the same period.
Despite the conflicting export signals, the combination of stronger rival oil prices and geopolitical supply concerns helped lift market sentiment, keeping Malaysian palm oil futures on a firmer footing. (P3)
