Singapore, Feb 2, 2026, 15:32 SGT — Regular session
Wilmar International Ltd (SGX:F34) shares slipped 0.9%, closing at S$3.36 by 3:28 p.m. in Singapore on Monday. The stock swung between S$3.32 and S$3.38, with roughly 5.6 million shares changing hands. (SG Investors)
The Singapore-listed agribusiness is a key player in Asia’s vegetable oils market, with traders holding back as edible oil prices slipped. Malaysian crude palm oil futures dropped roughly 2% in the last 24 hours, hovering near 4,229 ringgit a tonne. (TradingView)
Commodities took a hit Monday, with oil dropping nearly 5.5% and precious metals extending steep declines as investors pulled back following Kevin Warsh’s selection as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair, Reuters reported. Vivek Dhar, a commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, pointed to a stronger U.S. dollar adding extra strain on the sector. IG analyst Tony Sycamore noted that easing U.S.-Iran tensions also weighed on oil prices. (Reuters)
Demand signals remain mixed. India’s weather office forecasted a warmer and drier February following an unusually hot January, which could jeopardize rapeseed and other winter crops. Dealers believe this might boost cooking-oil imports. “Temperatures … will be above average in February,” said India Met Department chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. (Reuters)
Wilmar ranks among the region’s top processors and traders of palm oil and other edible oils. It also deals in consumer products and sugar. Changes in feedstock prices often hit trading and crushing margins fast, but the timing can be irregular.
The recent drop in commodities highlights just how quickly sentiment shifts. If palm oil prices continue to slide and buyers remain hesitant, refiners and traders could face tighter margins instead of relief.
Investors are keeping an eye on the currency channel as well. When the U.S. dollar strengthens, it usually puts pressure on dollar-priced commodities and pushes up costs for importers, particularly in markets sensitive to price changes.
Global data might steer markets ahead of the next earnings wave. The U.S. jobs report for January arrives Friday, Feb. 6, with potential to shake the dollar and risk appetite. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Wilmar’s next major event is its full-year earnings report, set to come out after markets close on Feb. 26, per an SGX filing. Investors will zero in on updates from its edible oils and oilseed processing segments, plus any outlook on demand trends in China and India. (Sgx)