Rubber Market Ends Mixed On Positive Global Data, Lower Oil Prices
By K. Naveen Prabu
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended mixed on Friday, supported by positive global economic data, a dealer said.
She said the Eurozone economy expanded by 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 (2Q 2026), exceeding market expectations of 0.2 per cent, signalling stronger-than-expected economic activity.
The dealer said the continued expansion in global electric vehicle (EV) sales also lifted market sentiment.
“Global EV sales increased by four per cent year-on-year in 2Q 2026, despite overall vehicle sales declining by about five per cent, supporting long-term demand from the tyre industry,” she told Bernama.
She said the resilient United States (US) labour market conditions also supported the rubber market.
“US labour market remained resilient, with weekly initial jobless claims at 197,000, indicating stable economic conditions,” she said.
Nevertheless, the dealer said gains were capped by lower crude oil prices.
“Oil prices slipped as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz improved, easing concerns over supply disruptions despite continued US-Iran tensions,” she said, adding that weakness in regional rubber futures markets also weighed on prices.
At 3 pm, the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) increased by 13.50 sen to 892 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex in bulk dropped by one sen to 695.5 sen per kg.
-- BERNAMA