PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on the Malaysian exchange moved higher on Wednesday (Jan 21, 2026), supported by expectations of stronger demand ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays and signs of improving export performance.
The benchmark CPO contract for April 2026 delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange climbed RM38 per ton, or about 0.93%, to RM4,132 per ton by the midday break, according to a Reuters report.
Market participants said the rally reflects projections of increased buying activity in the coming weeks. Demand for vegetable oils, including palm oil, typically strengthens ahead of festive seasons as food manufacturers and households ramp up consumption.
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Positive sentiment was further underpinned by export data. Cargo surveyors estimated that Malaysian palm oil product shipments for the period of Jan 1–20 rose between 8.64% and 11.4% month-on-month, signaling an improvement in global demand.
Regionally, palm oil prices tracked gains in rival vegetable oils. On the Dalian exchange, the most active soyoil contract edged up 0.05%, while palm oil futures advanced 1.24%. In the United States, soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were also slightly higher, gaining around 0.13%.
The combination of seasonal demand expectations and stronger export signals has helped keep market sentiment positive, opening room for palm oil prices to stay on a firmer path in the near term. (P3)
