Palm Oil Conference 2015 - Summary From RHB Research On 3 VVIPs

Mr Thomas Mielke, Ista Mielke, Oil World.
Mr Mielke said that the global market is in a tug-of-war between bearish demand and bullish supply fundamentals. The bearish demand stems from weakened biofuel demand due to low crude oil prices, which will result in biodiesel demand falling for the first time in many years in 2015. While Indonesia’s recently-announced biodiesel subsidy and cost-plus pricing for biodiesel producers will help to boost demand for palm oil (at an assumed 3.1-3.4m tonnes for 2015), the low crude oil prices will reduce discretionary biodiesel production – thereby reducing vegetable oil demand by 6m tonnes. On the supply side, while soybean supply and stock levels are still huge, this is offset somewhat by the lack of selling by farmers in South America (as they hold out for higher prices and store their inventory) and the ongoing worker strike in Brazil which started on 18 Feb. For the 17 oils and fats, Mr Mielke expects a below-normal production growth of 2m tonnes for 2014/2015 (vs +11.4m tonnes in 2013/2014), with the growth in palm oil production to be the smallest in 13 years of only 1.5m tonnes. Based on these factors, he expects palm oil prices to be fluctuating, but with a limited downside, while vegetable oil prices would continue divorcing from mineral oil prices. All in, he expects soy oil prices to recover by USD40-80/tonne in Apr/Sep 2015, while palm oil prices would rise moderately in the same period. Average price projection for CPO (cif Rotterdam) is USD770/tonne.

Dr. James Fry, LMC International.
Dr Fry continues to stand firmly by his thesis that CPO prices would be dictated by the price band created by the use of vegetable oils in biofuels. This year, he also added that export taxes would play a role in determining the price movements, as this would make a difference if CPO prices were high enough to attract export taxes. Dr Fry opined that 2015 would be a year of two halves – whereby the first half would see weak South-East Asian output push inventory of CPO to below 1.6m tonnes in 2Q15. At USD60/barrel, this means average prices of 1H15 would be about MYR2,260/tonne (or USD625). In 2H15, he expects stock levels to rise to well above 2.5m tonnes on the back of a hike in US interest rates, which would result in lower Brent prices, and therefore weaker discretionary biodiesel demand. Assuming that Brent crude oil stays at USD60/barrel, he projects that CPO prices would fall to MYR1,770/tonne (or USD485).

Mr Dorab Mistry, Godrej International.
The last presentation was from Mr Dorab Mistry of Godrej International. He believes although incremental global vegetable oil supply and demand numbers look broadly in balance in 2015 – with demand forecast to rise by 3.5m tonnes (+4m tonnes for food and -0.5m tonnes for biodiesel) and supply projected to go up by 3.1m tonnes – this is going to be a year of two halves. In the first six months of the year, demand will outstrip supply, but this will reverse in the 2H15. His price assumptions are based on a Brent crude oil assumption of USD50-75/barrel and a relatively strong US dollar. Based on this scenario, he expects palm oil prices to rise to MYR2,500/tonne between now and May, as palm oil production is under-performing and stocks are tight. After July, as production picks up, he expects CPO prices to decline and fall to MYR2,100/tonne by December.

Analyst James Fry On POC 2014

DJPO: BMD CPO Futures Likely Just Above 3000 Mid Year - Analyst James Fry. 

Palm-oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia are likely to move just above MYR3,000/ton if Brent crude stays at $110 a barrel, a leading oilseed analyst said Wednesday. 

Current drought and biodiesel demand in Southeast Asia is contributing to supply tightness, London-based consultancy LMC International Ltd. Chairman James Fry told an industry conference. 

"Fears about the future are now driving prices. The current drought will cut Southeast Asian crude palm oil output in the third quarter with a further adverse impact at the end of 2014," Mr. Fry said. 

Rising biofuel mandates will also add to market tightness, he added. 

Both Indonesia and Malaysia have mandated higher palm-oil content in their biodiesel blend which is expected to boost domestic consumption. The two countries account for 90% of world palm-oil supply.

Increased biofuel demand in Southeast Asia will take some heat off a slowing in demand in the U.S. and the European Union, Mr. Fry said. 

Emerging demand for oilseed-based biodiesel from other regions will add to consumption. "We have also seen the emergence of new discretionary demand for imported biodiesel as a cheap fuel in China and in blends into Africa," he said adding the potential demand for biofuels will keep losses limited. 

"The market today is looking ahead--anticipating events in the form of a sharper reduction in stocks than usual," he added. Malaysian palm-oil stocks will fall below 1.5 million tons by June--20% less than the 1.93 million tons in January, Mr. Fry said. 

Source: DJPO; Write to Huileng Tan at huileng.tan@wsj.com

news: Vegetable Oils Markets Overpriced, Correction Due

[Dow Jones] Recent rally in global vegetable oils market amid weather, supply concerns considered overdone, when compared with oil prices, indicating further correction in vegoil prices, says Lan Chen, economist at agribusiness consultancy firm LMC International. Notes MPOB end-month palm oil inventory levels may peak at 2.25 million tons, without giving timeframe; adds CPO output to "be strong in 2011." Chen predicts CPO prices may trade at MYR2,500-MYR2,600/ton next year. US soyoil $100 overpriced in biodiesel market, "may place downward pressure on soyoil and in turn, pressure palm oil prices lower," Chen says at industry conference. Palm oil moves in tandem with soyoil as both compete for similar export destinations, including China, India. New benchmark January contract trading MYR44 lower at MYR2,892/ton. (shie-lynn.lim@dowjones.com)