Rubber Market To Trade In Stable Mode Next Week With Upward Bias

By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian rubber market is expected to trade in a stable mode next week, with a tendency towards an upward bias, amid the ongoing 90-day pause in United States (US) tariffs, which offers breathing space to the global economy.

Industry expert Denis Low said that, as a result, prices and demand are likely to remain balanced, with a slight inclination towards higher levels.

He opined that the ongoing uncertainties caused by tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are certainly eroding economic optimism.

“Whenever optimism is lacking, the desire to be expansionary in all aspects of commerce will be affected. With such negativism prevailing, it can impact most commodities, including rubber, in two ways.

“The lack of optimism will reduce the willingness to increase production adequately. If left unchecked, this can balloon into a shortage, which is already beginning to occur in the rubber sector,” he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) said the rubber market is expected to face mixed pressures next week, with the potential for supply disruptions balanced by continued demand from key sectors and supportive Chinese policies.

The association noted that prices are expected to continue tracking the performance of regional rubber futures markets, the ringgit strengthening against the US dollar and benchmark crude oil prices.

“The wet weather season will continue to affect natural rubber supply in major producing countries, while developments related to US trade negotiations are still causing some uncertainties,” it said.

On a week-to-week basis, the Malaysian Rubber Board’s reference price for Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) fell by 18.50 sen to 740.50 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex in bulk increased by 18 sen to 627.0 sen per kg.

-- BERNAMA