BURSA MALAYSIA DERIVATIVES REPORTS 17 PCT GROWTH IN FCPO CONTRACTS TRADED IN 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Bhd hit a new milestone last year with 18.95 million crude palm oil futures (FCPO) contracts traded, up 17 per cent over the previous record of 16.21 million contracts in 2023.

Its director Mohd Saleem Kader Bakas said this is a clear testament of FCPO being the preferred hedging and risk-mitigating tool among the world’s edible oil traders.

“We remain focused on strengthening our marketplace by enhancing the ecosystem and improving our products to reinforce our position as the centre for palm oil price discovery,” he said in a statement today.

Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is set to host the 36th edition of its Palm and Lauric Oils Price Outlook Conference and Exhibition (POC2025) here from Feb 24-26, where industry leaders, analysts, policymakers and stakeholders come together to discuss the trends and challenges shaping the industry.

POC2025, to be officiated by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, is expected to attract over 2,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, said the futures and options exchange operator.

“This year’s programme will cover a broad range of topics, including supply-demand dynamics, pricing strategies, as well as the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical factors on trade flows.

“Discussions will also explore sustainability and regulatory aspects, along with the growing influence of biodiesel and oleochemicals in the market. In addition, participants will gain insights on how innovation advancements are transforming the industry,” it said.

Bursa Malaysia Derivatives noted that the upcoming edition of the flagship event will continue to feature a distinguished lineup of speakers — global industry experts and influential decision-makers.

Its chairman Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, who is also chief executive officer of parent company Bursa Malaysia Bhd, said that for nearly four decades, the palm oil conference has remained a sought-after avenue for industry players and market participants to discuss ideas and explore forward-thinking strategies that can drive industry growth.

“Despite market movements and trade flow dynamics, POC remains steady as the go-to industry knowledge and business-matching platform. Participation increases each year, and this edition has already seen a rise of more than 10 per cent in pre-registrations,” he added.

-- BERNAMA