KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7: Malaysian crude palm oil futures closed largely unchanged in dull trade on Friday as the market awaited a string of crucial numbers, including production data, to be released next week.

The benchmark November contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange finished up 1 ringgit to 2,471 ringgit ($706) a ton.

There are no domestic factors today and nothing even in the world markets to influence palm oil, said one leading trader.

All the action is next week when we have export and output numbers, even the USDA report is due next week.” Malaysia’s industry regulator is due to unveil August production, exports and closing stocks on Monday, and cargo surveyors will announce September 1-10 export data on the same day.

USDA will release its estimate for US soyabean crop size for September next Wednesday. The final US soya crop size is now expected to be above USDA’s August estimate.Other traded months were either marginally up or down.

Overall volume fell to 4,252 lots of 25 tons each, from around 10,000 lots that usually change hands on a routine day.

A Reuters poll on Friday showed palm oil stockpiles in Malaysia grew 14.8 per cent in August from July as a seasonal uptick in production outpaced exports. Palm oil, used in products ranging from confectioneries and cosmetics to biofuels, is more than 10 per cent off an historic high of 2,764 ringgit reached in June.

November palm oil on Singapore’s Joint Asian Derivatives Exchange was up $5 at $725 a ton with 7 lots being traded by 1039 GMT.

In the physical market, crude palm oil for September shipments in Malaysia’s central region was quoted at 2,510/2,520 ringgit a ton. Trades were done at 2,515 ringgit.—Reuters