FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Asia Biofuels Update: Palm Oil Recovers on Bargain Buying

By

Malaysian palm oil futures rebounded on Thursday amid bargain buying, following sharp declines in prices due to softening crude oil.

The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives' September crude palm oil contract gained 0.37% to 4,647 Malaysian ringgit ($1,154.10) per metric ton. The October contract firmed 0.23% to 4,772 ringgit/mt.

Front-loading of cargoes in Indonesia ahead of the full implementation of a higher 50% biodiesel blend also supported prices. Prospects of lower exportable supplies as the policy progresses also continued to provide upward momentum.

However, weaker exports in Malaysia, with Aug. 1-25 shipments reportedly estimated to have dropped 11.4% to 20% from a month earlier, weighed on sentiment.

Palm oil demand could receive a boost from India's upcoming festive season and Black Sea disruptions curbing sunflower oil cargo arrivals.

On the supply side, rainfall in Malaysia's producing regions could help mitigate the potential impact of a strong El Nino weather phenomenon, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Council chief executive Belvinder Sron, as cited by Bernama.

In Indonesia, meanwhile, weather conditions have reportedly been drier since late June, aiding harvesting activities but posing bigger risks in terms of fresh fruit bunch production in the long term.

The MPOC projects prices to remain above 4,600 ringgit/mt in September due to expectations of tighter supply. SD Guthrie, as cited by The Edge Malaysia, said prices could reach up to 5,000 ringgit/mt through year-end.

Related Articles

Commodities

Update: US Judge Reportedly Dismisses Lawsuit Against Trump's Offshore Drilling Expansion

(Updates with the Interior Department's response in the fourth and fifth paragraphs and Earthjustice's comments in the seventh and eighth paragraphs.)A federal judge has reportedly dismissed an environmental coalition's lawsuit challenging US President Donald Trump's expansion of offshore drilling in the Arctic and other areas, according to media outlets on Monday.Chief Judge Sharon Gleason of the US District Court for the District of Alaska found the case lacking in legal substance. The groups, led by the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, failed to show imminent harm from Trump's decision, E&E News by Politico reported.Gleason reportedly said that the issuance of permits for oil exploration involves multiple steps and does not pose immediate harm to the groups.In an emailed response to, the Interior Department, which is responsible for issuing oil and gas leases and drilling permits, said it did not have any comment to offer on pending litigationOn whether there are any new permits under process, a spokesperson said, "At this time, the 2nd Analysis and Proposal for the National Outer Continental Shelf Program is still under preparations and there is no estimated date for public release at this time."Trump, in 2025, reversed an order by his predecessors to permanently ban oil and gas development in the outer continental shelf, including parts of the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico.Gleason did not rule on whether a US president possesses the power to reverse coastal drilling bans, and allowed the coalition to refile their lawsuit, according to Reuters."We're disappointed the court found that offshore drilling activities are not imminent," said George Torgun, senior attorney at Earthjustice, an advocacy group representing the environmental coalition."We continue to maintain that President Trump's attempt to open withdrawn areas for oil leasing is unlawful, and we intend to pursue those claims if and when offshore activities are on the horizon," Torgun told.The groups earlier warned that any fossil fuel development in offshore waters could harm marine life and local Native American communities.

Commodities

US Natural Gas Update: Prices Jump on Hotter Forecast Across Eastern US

US natural gas futures rose in after-hours trading on Wednesday as persistent cooling demand and forecasts of hotter weather supported prices ahead of the September contract expiration.The front-month Henry Hub contract rose 3.29% to $2.861/MMBtu, while the continuous contract gained 2.98% to $2.905/MMBtu.Futures rose across most of the curve, led by the prompt month. Winter 2026-27 gained 2 cents, and Summer 2027 rose 1 cent at settlement, the Energy Buyers' Guide said.The Commodity Weather Group said Wednesday that forecasts had shifted hotter, with well-above-average temperatures expected across the eastern two-thirds of the US from Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, boosting cooling demand.Power-generation demand has strengthened in August, with month-to-date volumes above 2025 levels, the Energy Buyers' Guide said. Total demand was 79.0 Bcf/d, up 8.3% from a year earlier, Barchart said, citing BNEF data.Aegis Hedging said power-sector gas demand has nevertheless remained relatively weak this summer despite robust Lower-48 electricity demand.Renewables have displaced substantial gas demand, while coal-to-gas switching has not been enough to offset the decline, it said.Natural gas demand has remained below the five-year average and the levels of the past two years for much of summer 2026, despite record seasonal electricity demand, Aegis said. Expected data-center-driven growth in gas-fired generation has yet to appear in the data, it said, adding that renewables have been the bigger factor this year.Celsius Energy put gas' share of the power mix at 45% for the seven-day average ended Aug. 24, down 1.9% from a year earlier.US dry gas production was 111.4 Bcf/d, up 3.2% year on year, Barchart said, citing BNEF data. Estimated LNG net flows to US export terminals were 18.3 Bcf/d Wednesday, up 8.3% from the prior week, according to BNEF. Cheniere's Corpus Christi plant appeared to have returned to full strength after a short maintenance period, Reuters reported.The market is awaiting Thursday's US Energy Information Administration storage report. Expectations are for a 15-27 Bcf build for the week ended Aug. 21, versus a five-year average increase of 33 Bcf.

Commodities

US Power Update: PJM Power Prices Surge to $930/MWh as 4 US Markets Top $100

US wholesale electricity markets saw intraday price spikes Thursday, with four markets topping $100 per megawatt-hour as PJM Interconnection prices surged to $930.68/MWh, according to data from GridStatus.io.Electric Reliability Council of Texas' real-time locational marginal price was $63.74/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load reached 55.66 gigawatts, with natural gas accounting for the largest share of the generation mix at 46.1%. Prices climbed to an intraday high of $153.85/MWh at 8:10 a.m. ET.California Independent System Operator's real-time LMP was $49.33/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load came in at 13.91 GW, while solar held the largest share of the generation mix at 50.5%.Southwest Power Pool's real-time LMP came to $37.37/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load totaled 49.62 GW, with natural gas accounting for the largest share of the generation mix at 49.6%. Prices reached an intraday high of $119.01/MWh at 11:45 a.m. ET.PJM Interconnection's real-time LMP was $47.09/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load stood at 110.7 GW, while gas represented the largest share of the generation mix at 44.7%. Prices rose to an intraday high of $930.68/MWh at 12:55 p.m. ET.Midcontinent Independent System Operator's real-time LMP stood at $33.01/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load reached 80.56 GW, with coal making up the largest share of the generation mix at 31%. Prices hit an intraday high of $180.49/MWh at 2:40 p.m. ET.New York Independent System Operator's real-time LMP came in at $33.44/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load was 20.02 GW, while dual fuel supplied the largest share of the generation mix at 31.4%.ISO New England's real-time LMP was $43.44/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load totaled 14.53 GW, with natural gas holding the largest share of the generation mix at 52%.Independent Electricity System Operator's real-time LMP was $33.29/MWh at 4 p.m. ET. Net load reached 18.12 GW at 3:55 p.m. ET, with nuclear accounting for the largest share of the generation mix at 38%.The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center forecasts temperatures to stay above normal across much of the central and eastern US from Sep. 3 to Sep. 9, with below-normal and near-normal readings across much of the West.