Palm oil imports by China, the biggest cooking oil consumer, are predicted to jump 14 percent in February on optimism stricter quarantine inspections won't hurt trade.

Shipments are likely to rise to as much as 400,000 metric tons from about 350,000 tons in January, the median of a survey of four researchers and one trader showed. That compares with 384,000 tons in February last year. Increased purchases by China, the largest buyer after India, are expected to extend a 5.5 percent advance in futures this year on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, the global benchmark.

China Daily - Agencies