Malaysian Rubber Market Likely To Stay Subdued Amid Demand Uncertainty

By Siti Noor Afera Abu

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian rubber market is expected to remain subdued next week due to a prevailing bias towards weaker demand.

Industry expert Denis Low said there seems to be some volatility in the rubber market, with prices and demand moving like a pendulum.

He attributed this instability to lingering global uncertainty stemming from United States President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

“Coupled with a climate change phenomenon causing unpredictable weather conditions worldwide, volatility is expected as stocking up and replenishment are almost two diverse actions for the rubber market to digest.

“Speculative buying or non-buying can disrupt the market’s supply and demand dynamic,” he told Bernama.

On another note, Low said the Thai Meteorological Department had forecasted outbreaks of summer storms to begin in the Northeast region and expand to most other regions.

On a week-to-week basis, the Malaysian Rubber Board’s reference price for Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) increased by 2.44 per cent, or 18 sen, to 756.0 sen per kilogramme (kg) while latex in bulk was slightly down by about 0.74 per cent, or 4.5 sen, to 604.0 sen per kg. 

The Kuala Lumpur rubber market will be closed on May 12, 2025 (Monday) in conjunction with Wesak Day public holiday and will resume operation on May 13.

-- BERNAMA