Kuala lumpur: Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended higher on Thursday, supported by a positive outlook on vegetable oil export demand to India. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics senior analyst Dr. Sathia Varqa noted that India's Solvent Extractors' Association reported a significant increase in the country's palm oil imports for July, which rose about 50 per cent from the previous month, reaching 730,965 tonnes.

The report also highlighted increases in other vegetable oil imports, with soybean oil imports rising 31 per cent to 498,881 tonnes and sunflower oil imports increasing four per cent to 251,639 tonnes. Dr. Sathia indicated that market sentiment was further influenced by reduced CPO supply concerns stemming from El Nino risks.

At the close of trading, the spot month August and September 2026 contracts added RM18 to RM4,528 and RM4,608 per tonne, respectively. The October 2026 contract gained RM27 to RM4,724 per tonne, while the November 2026 contract added RM29 to RM4,805 per tonne. The December 2026 contract rose RM34 to RM4,862 per tonne, and the January 2027 contract strengthened RM36 to RM4,908 per tonne.

Trading volume saw an increase, rising to 136,861 lots from 110,756 lots on Wednesday. Open interest also rose, reaching 322,540 contracts from the previous 319,529 contracts. Additionally, the physical CPO price for August South increased by RM10 to RM4,530 per tonne.