Palm oil prices likely to touch $565/tonne by next Apr-June

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Oct 26: Palm oil futures in Malaysia, the world’s biggest supplier of the commodity, may gain next year because of rising demand for its use in processed food and fuels, according to Thomas Mielke, editor-in-chief of Oil World.

Palm oil may rise to 2,075 ringgit ($565) a tonne between April and June next year on the Malaysian Derivatives Exchange, Hamburg-based economist Mielke said. The contract averaged 1,568 ringgit last quarter.

Rising demand in Europe for regular diesel blended with vegetable oil amid high crude oil prices may drive palm oil’s gains. Palm oil, traditionally used as cooking oil, can be added to diesel to stretch fossil fuel supplies.

‘‘The market for palm oil will explode’’ should the pace of growth in biodiesel demand be maintained, Mielke said at a conference in Beijing. Demand for vegetable oil, including palm oil, may outstrip supply by as much as 5 million tonne, he said.

Palm oil futures for January 2007 delivery, the most actively traded contract on Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, rose 27 ringgits, or 1.7%, to close at 1,650 ringgit, the highest one-day rise since August 9.

The futures may climb as high as 1,800 ringgit by September, Dorab E. Mistry, a director at Godrej International Ltd, one of biggest domestic traders of edible oil, said in Mumbai last month. He cited mandatory blending regulations being implemented in most countries in the European Union (EU).

The EU wants every tank of fuel to consist of 5.75% biofuels by 2010. High crude prices and pollution concern are prompting governments to seek alternative fuels such as ethanol made from corn and sugar, and biodiesel from canola and palm oil.

Increased imports of vegetable oils by the EU, China and India have more than offset any rising production from Indonesia, Malaysia and Argentina, the three main exporters. Any production cuts may drive prices to 1,800 ringgit in the short-term, Mielke said.

Economic expansion in China and India, the world’s biggest buyers of palm and soybean oils, is increasing consumption of fried foods as incomes rise. India may import 6 mt of cooking oils in the year to October 2007, up 20% from an estimated 5 mt this year, as dry weather cut output of oilseeds such as peanuts and soybean.