Coconut oil pricing in the United States declined through January as post-holiday demand softened and Asian export volumes reached West Coast terminals. Buyers trimmed replenishment after promotions and adopted a hand-to-mouth stance, while softer renewable-diesel credits reduced blender appetite. Mid-month, copra-crushing runs in Southeast Asia enabled exporters to load full vessel programs, and container freight rates were steady, allowing reductions in offers to flow west. By month-end, market tone deteriorated as imported inflows outpaced withdrawals and coastal tank stocks edged higher. Downstream demand patterns reinforced the slide; food-sector intake was soft with minimum-stock policies; lauric blends shifted toward lower-priced palm-kernel oil to protect margins, while oleochemical demand for detergents remained steady. Renewable-diesel blending showed limited interest, and retail promotions were muted. On the supply side, leading exporters completed copra-crushing runs and placed additional refined and crude parcels for export, easing residual tightness. The outlook is mildly soft, with modest downside bias unless inventories tighten or promotional buying rebounds.
