Indonesian palm oil prices were mostly firm on Thursday as the rupiah currency lost ground against the US dollar and Malaysia crude palm oil futures gained on soyaoil, traders said.
In North Sumatra's Medan, Indonesia's key port for palm oil exports, crude palm oil was quoted at 3,932 rupiah ($0.421) a kg at a local auction, and little changed from 3,930 rupiah a kg on Wednesday. Some 1,500 tonnes of CPO changed hands at the auction.
At the state marketing centre's auction in Jakarta, CPO prices were quoted at 3,915 rupiah a kg, up from 3,908 rupiah a kg on Wednesday. In Jakarta, RBD palm olein was quoted between 4,250 and 4,300 rupiah a kg, compared to 4,285 rupiah a kg on Wednesday.
Sluggish demand, however, prevented prices from rallying despite support from Malaysian crude palm oil futures and the weakening rupiah. "Fresh buying interest has not yet emerged. Buyers are still cautious on the market," said one trader in Medan.