KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Analysts have maintained crude palm oil (CPO) price forecasts after Malaysia's palm oil inventory hit a 22-month high.

Hong Leong Investment Bank research said in a note on Monday that it is maintaining its 2025-2026 CPO price assumptions of 4,300 ringgit (1,016 U.S. dollars) per ton and 4,200 ringgit per ton, respectively.

"If the latest production figures are any indication, palm oil stock level may have reached its peak in September and is expected to begin trending lower from October, supporting our view of firm CPO prices in the near to medium term," said the research house.

Malaysia's palm oil stock level rose for the seventh consecutive month, by 7.2 percent month-on-month to 2.36 million tons, the highest level since November 2023. This was due to a seasonally lower cropping cycle and higher exports that were more than offset by higher imports and lower domestic consumption.

MBSB Research has also maintained average CPO price forecasts of 4,300 ringgit per ton and 4,200 ringgit per ton for 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Meanwhile, Maybank Investment Bank said in a note on Monday that as palm oil output is likely to remain strong (especially from East Malaysia) for at least another month, the high stockpile coupled with present geopolitical risks may potentially pressure CPO price on the downside in the short term. (1 ringgit equals 0.24 U.S. dollars) ■