The benchmark FCPO October contract tumbled RM115 or 3.78 per cent to close at RM2,927 per tonne on Friday from RM3,042 per tonne last Friday. The trading range for the week was from RM2,880 to RM3,008.
Total volume traded for the week amounted to 171,868 contracts, up 21,547 contracts from the previous week. The open interest as at Thursday increased to 106,686 contracts from 103,992 contracts the previous Thursday.
The palm oil market suffered a double whammy this week as the weather forecast indicated improved rains in the US drought stricken areas and the debt crisis condition in Spain worsened approaching for seeking bailout.
Rains moved across to most parts in the US Midwest this week, providing some beneficial soil moisture for the crops. However, the amount of rains needed was still light especially in the central and western of Midwest.
Rains are very important in the coming few weeks to revive the potential yield of soybean as the soybean crop is entering the crucial growing phase of pods setting and filling.
The rains event this week was only temporary bringing relief from the current heat and dryness stress to soybean crop and the crop condition would be very much dependant on the weather condition these coming few weeks.
The latest weather forecast report indicated the warm and dry weather would return in the US next week coupled with limited rains sighted sparked the traders to short cover and added back some risk premium to soybean prices before the week ended.
The weekly crop progress released by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Monday indicated the crop condition in the US further deteriorating. The soybean crop was 31 per cent in good to excellent condition, reducing from 34 per cent the previous week.
The palm oil export demand remained weak even though there was a slight improvement in the latest exports data released.
Cargo surveyor ITS released the palm oil export figures for the period of July 1 to July 25 on Wednesday at 1,026,153 tonnes, a drop of 14.25 per cent while another surveyor SGS at 986,829 tonnes, a fall of 18.6 per cent from the same period last month.
With the weak exports demand currently, some traders anticipated the palm oil stocks would be easily cross above 1.8 million tonnes from 1.7 million tonnes in the previous month as they forecasted the production in July would increase double digit percentage.
Technical View
The benchmark October contract had broken our major support at RM2,970 to RM3,000 levels this week which had turned the market from bull to neutral.
Weather in the US would remain the main focus in the coming weeks’ price movement and the market could be volatile as what we had mentioned last week.
If hot and dry weather persisted, the market would be very likely to break above RM3,000 again but if timely rains could reach most of the needed dry areas in the US, the market may test the previous low of RM2,838.
Resistance was pegged at RM2,986 and RM3,067 while support was set at RM2,838 and RM2,754.
Major fundamental news this coming week
Malaysian export data for full month of July by ITS and SGS on July 31.
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