Crude palm oil prices to hold above RM4,400 per tonne into 2026, says MPOC

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council said on Tuesday that crude palm oil prices will hold steady above RM4,400 per metric ton heading into 2026, supported by biodiesel demand and uncertainty over stocks available for export. Tightening supply of soybean oil from Argentina and concern over the impact on stocks of Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel mandate will support palm prices, the Council said in a statement. However, it said sentiment remained cautious due to weak crude oil prices, high vegetable oil stocks in major markets such as China and India, the U.S.-China trade war and a build-up of soybean stocks. The Council said there has been an increase in U.S. soybean stocks since the harvest began there last month, as China has suspended imports of U.S. soybeans in May and is now buying mainly from South America. “Although stronger domestic crushing activity and higher soybean oil consumption in the U.S. are expected under the 45Z biofuel policy in 2026, which prioritises domestically produced ...