Palm posts longest winning streak since 2002, gains for 11th day

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures reversed early losses on Wednesday to record their longest winning streak since June 2002, climbing for an 11th consecutive day, as traders weighed forecasts for improved production against robust exports outlook.

The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended up 38 ringgit, or 0.98%, at 3,935 ringgit ($955.33) a tonne.

"Prices are up supported by fundamentals of low stocks and higher global vegetable oil complex," said Sathia Varqa, co-founder of Singapore-based Palm Oil Analytics.

The market had declined slightly in early trade, as the Southern Peninsula Palm Oil Millers' Association forecast a large increase in March 1-15 production in Malaysia while Indonesia's output is also expected to rise, a Kuala Lumpur-based trader said.

Malaysia's exports to India have been robust this month and may keep March stocks unchanged, the trader added.

The world's second-largest palm exporter, kept its April export tax for crude palm oil at 8%.

Palm oil exports from Indonesia, the world's top producer, rose nearly 20% on an annual basis in January, the country's biggest palm group said, but output was disrupted by flood and stocks fell to a six-month low.

Dalian's most-active soyoil contract fell 1.5%, while its palm oil contract declined 1.9%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade rose 0.4%.

Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market.

"Agricultural prices have rallied since the middle of last year and this has sparked talk of a super cycle, but we anticipate that this latest rally will prove temporary," Samuel Burman, an assistant commodities economist at Capital Economics, said in a note.

Agricultural prices will fall as demand growth wanes and supply holds up as high prices and the return of migrant labour boosts production, he added.