Palm Oil’s Slump Set to Deepen After Indonesia Lifts Export Ban

Prices may slide to 5,000 ringgit a ton by July-August: Savola
Demand from top buyers India and China has weakened recently

A palm oil tanker docked at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on April. 26.Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg

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By Eko Listiyorini and Pratik Parija

May 19, 2022 at 11:47 PM UTC

Updated on

May 20, 2022 at 2:56 AM UTC

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Palm oil has lost a major pillar of support after top producer Indonesia lifted a ban on exports, paving the way for prices to slump further as supply builds and demand languishes.

Futures were already lower this week on expectations Indonesia’s ban would be short-lived, and late Thursday President Joko Widodo said that exports can resume from May 23. This is after considering improvements in domestic supply and prices, as well as the 17 million workers in the industry, he added.