Palm posts biggest daily gain since July 2 on Indonesia biodiesel plan
22/08/2024 (Reuters), Jakarta - Malaysian palm oil futures rose for a second session on Thursday, underpinned by Indonesia's plan to boost its biodiesel mandate.
The benchmark palm oil contract FCPOc3 for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 72 ringgit, or 1.92%, to 3,826 ringgit a metric ton at closing, its highest daily gain since July 2.
"Indonesia biodiesel blend upgrade to B40 and lower production cycle in the first quarter (next year) is supporting the contract higher," said Sathia Varqa, senior analyst with Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics.
Indonesia planned to raise its palm-based biodiesel mandate to 40% starting Jan. 1, 2025, from currently 35%, senior official at energy ministry said.
Indonesia's energy ministry tested biodiesel mixed with 40% palm oil-based fuel on trains in July and is planning several other tests on power plants, agriculture machinery and the shipping industry, which is expected to be concluded in December, before raising the blend.
"A higher biodiesel mandate means higher consumption of CPO within the domestic Indonesian market, expected to be around 15 million tonnes, resulting in less availability for exports, leaving Malaysia to expand and penetrate new CPO export markets," he added.
Dalian's palm oil contract DCPcv1 gained 1.54%, while the most active soyoil contract DBYcv1 was up 0.11%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade BOc2 rose 0.07%.
Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market.
Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for Aug. 1-20 fell between 16.7% and 18.4% from a month earlier, data from cargo surveyors Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), Intertek Testing Services and AmSpec Agri Malaysia showed.