Malaysian palm oil futures extended gains for a third session on Monday, with prices holding above MYR 4,650 per tonne. A weaker ringgit underpinned sentiment, along with strength in Dalian palm olein as well as soyoil prices in Chicago markets. Robust exports added momentum, as cargo surveyors noted March 1–25 shipments surged 38–51% from February, reflecting strong post-Eid demand. Supply concerns also lent support, with top supplier Indonesia accelerating its B50 biodiesel rollout and weighing higher April export taxes. Crude oil’s upside amid the Iran war further bolstered sentiment. However, upside was capped by softer demand from top buyer India, where March imports are projected at 680,000 tonnes versus 847,689 tonnes in February. Indian regulators also extended the suspension of derivatives trading in key agricultural commodities, including crude palm oil, through March 2027. Caution lingered ahead of the March PMI data in China, another main consumer, set for later this week.
