Rubber futures approached 190 US cents per kilogram, a level not seen since April 2025, partly due to firmer oil prices that make synthetic alternatives less attractive. Moreover, supply concerns mounted as the tapping season in key Asian producers such as Thailand and Vietnam nears its conclusion. Rubber crops typically enter a brief tapping season in late January, followed by a low-production period from February to May, before entering a peak harvesting period that lasts until September. Meanwhile, expectations of pre-Lunar New Year restocking in China boosted demand prospects, although the impact may be limited by reports of rising inventories at Qingdao port.
Today Markets
