ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) revealed its its recent report that Indonesia’s corn output could reach 20.22 million tons this year, more than twice of the Philippines. Last year, Indonesia produced 20.67 million tons of corn with productivity of around 5.07 tons per hectare.

Unlike crude oil, soybean oil advanced on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday (Feb 5). Earlier on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives, crude palm oil (CPO) advanced to its new high, when the benchmark April 2016 contracts were briefly traded above RM2600 per ton to represent 37% gain from last year’s bottom.

Shares of coal producers end mixed worldwide Friday as crude oil retreated from its recent high, while US continues to cut significantly its coal output. Major producers in Indonesia, meanwhile, will likely maintain gross profit margin above 20% this year despite persistent weakness of coal prices.

Shares of Freeport McMoRan (FCX) and Newmont Mining, both with significant operations in Indonesia, surged by 11.5% and 11.3% respectively in New York Wednesday (Feb 3) as some investors speculated that production cuts starting to pay off. Really?

The benchmark April 2016 contracts of crude palm oil (CPO) advanced RM32 to RM2547 per ton on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Wednesday (Feb 3). In Jakarta’s physical market, KPB Nusantara, the joint marketing office of state plantations, sold most packages at Rp7057/Kg (net), the highest price in weeks. Companies in this edition: Bumitama’s new acquisition, DSNG, and Global Palm Holdings.

The benchmark April 2016 contracts of crude palm oil (CPO) jumped almost 3% to RM2514/ton on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Tuesday (Feb 2), while WTI crude oil retreated to below US$30 per barrel once again. This might affect the ongoing discussions between Rajawali Group and Felda Global Ventures on Eagle High Plantations (BWPT).

WTI crude oil opened significantly higher by 4.27% to US$33.7 per barrel on Nymex Friday (Jan 28), while Brent crude soared by 4.6% to US$34.6 per barrel as investors started to speculate on production cuts by major producers. Shares of energy companies were also targets of speculation. Shell advanced 3.8%, while ConocoPhillips jumped 6.4%.

The benchmark April contracts of crude palm oil (CPO) advanced to RM2512 per ton midday Thursday, but ended the day losing RM23 to RM2480 per ton. Shares of plantation companies, interestingly, ended the day mostly higher grounds.

Rio Tinto Limited informed market participants this morning that it has signed a binding agreement for the sale of its Mount Pleasant thermal coal assets in Australia to MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd for US$224 million of cash plus royalties.