InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – Crude palm oil (CPO) prices are projected to move within a consolidated range of RM4,000 to RM4,300 per tonne throughout March 2026, supported by tighter short-term supply, stronger demand from India, and resilient US soybean oil prices.

In an official statement reported by Bernama on Wednesday (Feb 25, 2026), the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) noted that abundant global soybean supply and rising soybean oil exports from China could limit further gains in CPO prices.

China became a net exporter of soybean oil for the first time in 2025 and is expected to maintain this position in 2026 with projected exports reaching around 850,000 tonnes. India absorbed nearly half of China’s soybean oil exports last year.

Palm Oil Market Fundamentals Expected to Improve

MPOC expects palm oil market fundamentals to gradually strengthen in the coming months. Stronger Malaysian exports in the first quarter and accelerated shipments from Indonesia ahead of a planned export levy hike in March are likely to reduce palm oil inventories in both countries.

Malaysia’s palm oil production in January 2026 declined seasonally to 1.58 million tonnes, down 13.8% month-on-month. Meanwhile, exports rose to 1.48 million tonnes, up 11.4% from December 2025, marking the second-highest monthly export volume in the past 12 months. (T2)