Kuala lumpur: Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower today, primarily influenced by a weak supply-and-demand forecast, a trader reported. The latest data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for April indicated an increase in palm oil stocks, highlighting sluggish exports as a major factor affecting market sentiment. According to BERNAMA News Agency, despite the bearish sentiment that has driven CPO prices down, geopolitical developments in West Asia might offer future support. The trader noted that escalating tensions between the United States and Iran could potentially sustain CPO prices or even cause a sudden upward spike. At the market close, the May 2026 contract decreased by RM44 to RM4,451 per tonne, while the June 2026 contract fell RM34 to RM4,450. The July 2026 contract saw a reduction of RM35 to RM4,481 per tonne. The August 2026 contract was down RM28 to RM4,504 per tonne, September 2026 decreased RM26 to RM4,515, and October 2026 dropped RM23 to RM4,525 per t onne. Trading volume saw a significant increase, rising to 128,099 lots compared to 61,162 lots on Monday. However, open interest slightly declined to 280,300 contracts from the previous 280,839 contracts. The physical CPO price for May South also saw a reduction, falling RM30 to RM4,510 per tonne.