NCDEX coriander hits 8-month high on low crop view

Futures contracts of coriander hit an eight-month high of 5,848 rupees per 100 kg on the NCDEX as production in the ongoing rabi season is likely to decline. The most-active April contract of coriander was at 5,840 rupees per 100 kg, up 2.3% from the previous close. Low prices during the sowing season made farmers shift to other remunerative crops. Prices of coriander were unavailable in Rajasthan as markets were shut on account of Basant Panchami.

Indian government may raise vegoil import duty third time since Aug 2017.

Indian government may raise the import duty on vegetable oils such as refined palm oil and palm olein, sunflower oil and cottonseed oil for the third time since August 2017, amid lobbying by the country’s refiners and to protect local farmers. This move could come ahead of key state and general elections due to be held in 2018 and 2019, to attract farmerr. The government had raised import duties in August 2017 and again in November in the wake of intense lobbying by the Indian refiners, and in order to cater to farmers requests ahead of a key state election in Gujarat.

MCX CPO near 1-month low on cues from Malaysian bourse.

The February contract of crude palm oil on MCX hit a near one-month low tracking benchmark contracts on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives. Prices of crude palm oil fell on the Malaysian bourse due to a strong ringgit against the dollar and on concerns over a likely fall in demand from the European Union.

E.U. looks to remove palm oil from biofuels.

E.U. biofuels groups praised a vote by the European Parliament on Jan. 17 to phase out the use of palm oil in biofuels and allow some crop-based fuels. Still, more needs to be done, said ePURE leaders, the European renewable ethanol association. Europeans deserve a climate policy that lives up to the promises made by politicians. The Parliament has sent a message that not all biofuels are created equal by focusing on getting rid of those that drive deforestation like palm oil. But its amendments still risk making it harder for E.U. member states to realistically boost renewables in transport.