Malaysian crude palm oil futures closed sharply lower for the fourth straight day on Thursday due to technical selling and a decline in the prices of crude oil. "Fundamentals are all very good, but the market is now moving on technical grounds," said one dealer. "Crude oil prices have also come down."
The palm oil market often tracks energy prices with several companies setting up palm-based biofuel plants and as Malaysia moves closer to the October launch of biodiesel at domestic pumps.
The benchmark third-month November crude palm oil contract on the Bursar Malaysia Derivatives market had fallen 2.5 percent or 41 ringgit to 1,586 ringgit ($432) a tonne.
Other traded months fell between 36 and 45 ringgit. Volumes stood at 18,227 lots of 25 tonnes each. "One support level after the other is breaking down, it was 1,675 ringgit, then 1,645, 1,635, 1,620 and now 1,600," another dealer said.
The open interest was high at 66,168 lots, compared with 35,000 to 40,000 lots a few months ago, which traders said indicated a large number of players.
On Tuesday, cargo surveyor Society General de Surveillance (SGS) said exports of Malaysian palm products for August 1-15 stood at 628,542 tonnes, up 21 percent from the 520,036 tonnes shipped between July 1 and 15.
Another cargo surveyor, Intake Testing Services (ITS), put the export figure at 659,014 tonnes, up 20 percent from 549,203 tonnes shipped between July 1 and 15.
Oil fell more than a dollar on Thursday to its lowest price in nearly two months after ample US fuel stockpiles eased investor fears of supply shortages as the US summer driving season draws to a close.
US light sweet crude for September delivery dropped $1.19 to $70.70 a barrel. Soyaoil, a major ingredient in biodiesel, was also under pressure from softer energy markets.
It has been under pressure since late last week, when funds began liquidating long positions. Soyaoil futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended 0.23 cent per lb.
Lower at 25.15 cents, with the back months down 0.11 to 0.23. In the physical market, crude palm oil for August shipment saw sellers at 1,570 ringgit a tonne and bids at 1,560.
Trades were done between 1,570 and 1,590 ringgit a tonne.