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Key takeaways:
Soyoil futures traded with losses after a sharp rally in the previous session, with stronger crude oil limiting part of the negative tone.
The most-active April CPO futures contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose by over 2% to close at 4,071 ringgit ($1,004) per tonne. This was its largest daily increase in five and a half months, with the contract closing at the same level as the midday break but extending the intraday high in the second session to 4,088 ringgit per tonne. And trading to a low of 3,978 ringgit per tonne.
CPO was tracking a rally in CME soyoil futures overnight which extended into Asia hours. This was following market talk of US biofuel plans, which was broadly supportive of the global veg oil complex.
On a weekly basis, the most-active third-month contract rose by 0.87% from the settlement of 4,036 ringgit per tonne on January 9, after swinging between a monthly high and a near one-month low during the week, as the market digested data on high inventories, delays to Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel plan, levy increases and moves in related oils.
Chinese veg oil futures also rose on Friday across palm, soyoil and rapeseed. It saw the most active May contract for palm olein futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange up by 0.58% to 8,674 yuan ($1,245) per tonne. While the equivalent soyoil contract rose by 0.63% to close at 8,016 yuan per tonne.
The May rapeseed oil contract on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange also recovered from losses the previous day to close at 2.07% higher to 9,063 yuan per tonne.
Production estimates from the Southern Peninsular Palm Oil Millers Association (SPPOMA) were reported 17.1% lower in January 1-15 compared with the same period a month earlier. This continues the downtrend recorded so far in SPPOMA figures. Malaysia’s January production is pegged to fall by 13-14% from December’s 1.83 million tonnes based on early estimates by industry analysts.
In the cash market, CPO was traded to India at $1,105 per tonne CFR west coast India (WCI) for February shipment. Discussions toward the close of the day were at $1,1106-1,116 per tonne CFR WCI, also for February.
CPO was also traded at $1,067.50 per tonne FOB Indonesia for February shipment. Discussions for the same month were at $1,065-1,075 per tonne FOB Indonesia at the day’s close. While discussions for February-shipment olein were at $1,010-1,020 per tonne FOB Indonesia.
In the Americas, CME soyoil futures traded with losses in a profit-taking movement following the previous session rally, while stronger crude oil limited the negative pressure.
Market participants positioned ahead of the Martin Luther King Day holiday on Monday January 19, when the CME will be closed for trading.
The most-active March CME soyoil contract went down by 0.51% on the day to 52.70 cents per lb at 1pm US Eastern time.
On Thursday January 15, soyoil futures rallied after news that the US administration plans to finalize the 2026 biofuel blending mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) by early March, according to news reports.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to keep the overall blending targets close to its June proposal of 24.02 billion gallons for 2026, news agency Reuters said on Thursday.
Fastmarkets had reported earlier in the week that the EPA considers the bio-based diesel mandate at 5.2 billion–5.6 billion gallons versus the originally proposed 5.61 billion gallons.
Fastmarkets reported earlier that the US administration intends to drop the plan to penalize 50% of the credits generated by Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for all imports of foreign renewable fuels and its feedstocks.
The EPA is expected to send its proposal to the White House later in January and completion is expected about 30 days after review. This schedule is in line with the agency’s public commitments of a final decision in the first quarter of 2026.
Crude oil futures rebounded after losses in the previous session, limiting soyoil losses in the session. Participants saw a reduced risk of a US strike against Iran, after days of growing tensions and threats as the country faces the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years.
Meanwhile, soymeal futures traded mildly higher in the session, mainly led by stronger corn prices, which recovered from a sharp decline at the beginning of the week, and supported by a positive tone in soybean futures.
The most-liquid soymeal March contract went up by 0.24% to $289.90 per short ton at the same time.
In the physical market in South America, Fastmarkets heard Argentine soyoil for June and July loading traded at a discount of 5.7 cents per lb to July futures. This saw 2,000 tonnes changing hands for each loading month.
The soyoil basis for February loading was assessed at a discount of 0.4 cents per lb in Brazil and 0.5 cents per lb in Argentina, both to March futures.
On the soymeal front, the February soymeal basis in Brazil fell by $1.00 per short ton from the previous assessment to a premium of $3.50 per short ton to February futures.
In Argentina, the corresponding soymeal basis also fell by $1.00 per short ton from the previous assessment to a premium of $12.50 per short ton to the same futures contract.
As of 6:30pm Central European time, Euronext May rapeseed futures were trading at €467 ($541.61) per tonne, up by €2.50 per tonne from the previous market close.
FOB Rotterdam rapeseed oil (RSO) prices were mostly steady on Friday. This was despite an early rally in futures on the China-Canada trade agreement.
February offers were reported at €1,030 per tonne, with bids at €1,010 per tonne. This compared with offers at €1,028-1,040 per tonne and bids at €1,010-1,025 per tonne heard on Thursday.
The February-March-April (FMA) strip was offered at €1,035-1,045 per tonne, with bids at €1,025 per tonne, compared with offers at €1,037-1,040 per tonne and buy-side interest around €1,020-1,027 per tonne on Thursday.
Down the curve, May-June-July (MJJ) offers stood in a €1,037-1,047 per tonne range. Bids were at €1,028-1,031 per tonne. This compared with offers at €1,035-1,040 per tonne and bids at €1,018-1,034 per tonne on Thursday.
Prices for FOB sunflower oil (SFO) across six EU ports again narrowed along the curve on Friday. March prices eased slightly, while prices for April onwards rose with higher offers.
Levels had risen to multi-year highs earlier this week amid prolonged uncertainty over possible supply disruptions out of the Black Sea.
February and March (FM) volumes were offered at $1,570 per tonne and $1,520 per tonne respectively, but no bids surfaced. This compared with offers at $1,560 per tonne and bids at $1,480 per tonne on Thursday.
More activity was reported for the April-May-June (AMJ) window. Offers were heard at $1,490-1,500 per tonne. Bids were at $1,440-1,445 per tonne. This compared with AMJ offers at $1,475-1,480 per tonne and bids at $1,440-1,445 per tonne on Thursday.
No sunflower oil trades were reported on Friday.
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