Rubber Market Expected To Move Sideways Next Week 

By Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The rubber market is expected to move sideways next week as buying is limited to immediate needs and replenishment, according to industry expert Denis Low.

He said that the market is likely to remain quiet, with prices and demand muted, and a slight bias toward lower levels.

“This is due to several uncertainties. Geopolitical tensions are making traders and manufacturers cautious, while seasonal factors are affecting rubber productivity in the weeks ahead,” he told Bernama.

Low added that the early end of the monsoon season, coupled with the wintering of rubber trees, is influencing the opening of the new season and overall supply.

Meanwhile, a trader expects rubber prices to trade in a mixed-to-cautious manner next week, guided primarily by movements in regional rubber futures, fluctuations in the ringgit against the US dollar, and changes in crude oil prices.

“The market remains underpinned by tight natural rubber supply due to heavy rainfall in key producing countries,” the trader said.

Participants will also continue to closely monitor global economic developments, geopolitical tensions, and policy signals from major rubber-consuming nations.

On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the Malaysian Rubber Board’s reference price for Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) rose 10 sen to 758 sen per kilogramme (kg) while latex in bulk rose two sen to 578 sen per kg.

-- BERNAMA