Palm slides for fourth session on weaker rival oils, crude oil

BURSA MALAYSIA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Malaysian palm oil futures fell for a fourth consecutive session on Wednesday, with the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange’s benchmark contract for December delivery slipping 25 ringgit, or 0.52 percent, to 4,785 ringgit (US$1,175.96) a metric ton in early trade.

The decline came as weaker rival edible‑oil prices and falling crude oil prices weighed on the commodity, a development that could temper sentiment in Malaysia’s palm‑oil market where futures are closely watched by growers, processors and exporters. The slide adds to a string of modest losses that have kept the benchmark below the 4,800‑ringgit level for several days, a threshold often cited by market participants as a barometer of short‑term price health.

Oil prices drifted lower after Saudi Arabia began restoring crude supply on a critical pipeline to the Red Sea, while hopes for a diplomatic solution to the US‑Iran conflict grew following talks at the United Nations in New York. The softer crude backdrop reduced the cost component that typically supports palm‑oil prices, given the commodity’s reliance on energy inputs for processing and transport.

At the same time, rival edible oils such as soybean and rapeseed also posted weaker prices, diminishing the relative attractiveness of palm oil in the regional market.

Asian equity markets were seeking a sixth straight session of gains, buoyed by signs of consumer demand for artificial‑intelligence applications that lifted technology stocks. However, the broader commodities backdrop remained subdued as reports of increased Middle‑East oil supply tempered risk appetite. The combination of lower crude and edible‑oil prices created a headwind for palm‑oil futures, reinforcing the recent downward trend.

The market will watch upcoming supply data and any further developments in the US‑Iran diplomatic track for clues on whether crude and rival‑oil prices will stabilize or resume their decline. Traders and industry observers are likely to gauge the impact of these external price movements on palm‑oil demand and export margins as the December contract approaches its delivery date.

Related: Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange · Bursa Malaysia