PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR – Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower on Thursday (30/4/2026), as market participants adopted a cautious stance ahead of an extended holiday break that is expected to slow regional trading activity.
Negative sentiment also stemmed from China, where traders began trimming risk exposure as the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is set for a longer holiday closure. The situation prompted investors to delay fresh positions while awaiting clearer demand signals once the market reopens.
According to Bernama, the May 2026 CPO contract slipped RM1 to RM4,504 per ton. The June 2026 contract declined RM5 to RM4,540 per ton, while the July 2026 contract fell RM8 to RM4,570 per ton.
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Meanwhile, the August 2026 contract posted a sharper decline of RM16 to RM4,588 per ton. September 2026 dropped RM22 to RM4,599 per ton, while the October 2026 contract eased RM20 to RM4,609 per ton.
Despite the weaker prices, trading activity increased significantly. Total volume rose to 84,955 lots from 73,968 lots recorded on Wednesday, indicating that traders remained active in adjusting positions ahead of the holiday break.
Open interest also climbed to 259,891 contracts from 256,779 previously, suggesting continued market interest in palm oil futures despite the short-term correction.
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In the physical market, May South CPO deliveries fell RM10 to RM4,550 per ton, in line with the softer futures market amid holiday sentiment and a lack of fresh bullish catalysts.
In contrast, Indonesia’s domestic CPO market moved higher. At PT Kharisma Pemasaran Bersama Nusantara (KPBN), Thursday’s tender ended in withdraw (WD), with the highest bid reaching IDR 15,400 per kilogram.
That marked an increase of IDR 180/kg, or around 1.18%, compared with Wednesday’s level of IDR 15,220/kg.
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The gain in Indonesia’s domestic market suggests local demand remains relatively firm, while also highlighting differing market dynamics between international and domestic trade. Industry players are now watching export trends, rival vegetable oil prices, and early May production developments for the next direction of the market. (P3)
