The commodity, used in everything from household kitchens to processed foods to soaps, had seen prices hold firm even as others such as crude oil were falling sharply
HUL said the company aims to build supply chain resilience for palm derivatives, and will build infrastructure for palm oil collection and processing.
Indonesia sets the weighted average price for palm oil - the reference rate - every month, to calculate export duty. The move is seen as a measure to ramp up shipments by the largest cultivator of palm oil.
The world’s biggest edible oil importer relies on Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand for palm oil supplies. An increase in production will help India slash edible oil imports that account for nearly two-thirds of its total consumption.
Commodity prices remaining stable or soft is what FMCG majors would like, when material costs decline sharply there’s an acute risk of smaller players stealing a march over the bigger ones
"It is categorically clarified that the government extended the validity period of import duty exemption on Masur Dal only, by one year," an official clarification stated.
The pandemic, followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflicted back-to-back body blows on global supply chains and production, leading to shortages all around.
The current duty structure on crude palm oil, RBD Palmolein, RBD palm oil, crude soybean oil, refined soybean oil, crude sunflower oil and refined sunflower oil remains set till 31 March, 2023.
With commodity prices correcting, investors need to keep an eye on the demand from rural markets
Rural markets are likely to recover on the back of normal monsoon and higher MSP
India has reduced the base import prices of crude palm oil, soyoil, gold and silver, the government said late on Wednesday.
Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer, has since April 28 halted exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and some derivative products in a bid to tame soaring prices of domestic cooking oil.
Analysts say higher crude palm oil prices will further force domestic fast-moving consumer goods companies to raise prices at a time when their previous price hikes have started to dent volumes
While oilseed crushers have announced plans to expand processing capacity, most of the new facilities will not be online for at least a year, industry sources said.
In a video broadcast, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said he wanted to ensure the availability of food products at home, after global food inflation soared to a record high following Russia's invasion of major crop producer Ukraine.
Indonesia counts for more than half of the global supply of the edible oil, which is used in everything from cakes, chocolate, margarine and frying fats to cosmetics, soap, shampoo and cleaning products.
The CBIC in a notification also extended the validity of reduced import duty on crude palm oil and other crude oils by six months till September 30.
Mistry pegged palm oil prices in a range from 4,000 ringgit to 4,400 ringgit during October to February before they ease in March.
There are concerns that it may not be a good idea from the environment point of view to give a push to the growth of oil palm in biodiversity rich areas like the North-East and the Andamans
The tax cut could make palm oil more attractive than rival soyoil and sunflower oil for Indian refiners and boost imports of the tropical oil in the next three months, supporting benchmark Malaysian prices.
The new duty would be effective from June 30, the statement said.
Although the demand scenario in India is uncertain even though the lockdown situation in various states have started to ease for agricultural activities, the industries continue to stock in lesser Crude Palm Oil as the retail and cosmetic demand is lower in major parts of India, said Subramaniam.
The momentum indicator Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 51.05, suggests sideways movement in the prices.
The momentum indicator Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 50.40 which indicates neutral movement in the prices.