KL Rubber Market Ends Higher On NR Supply Concerns

By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended higher today, supported by persistent concerns over the natural rubber (NR) supply shortage as the wintering season approaches, amid mixed signals from regional rubber futures markets, a dealer said.

Nevertheless, she said further gains were capped by losses in oil prices due to an increase in United States crude stockpiles, in addition to tariff worries weighing on sentiment.

“It was reported that rubber production areas in Southeast Asia are set to halt harvesting as they transition into the wintering season from February to May 2025,” she told Bernama.

The dealer also noted that Japanese rubber futures fell today, owing to the sluggish vehicle demand in China.

At 4.55 pm, Brent crude oil prices declined by 0.81 per cent to US$76.28 per barrel.

The Malaysian Rubber Board reported that at 3 pm, the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) surged by 14.5 sen to 897.5 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex in bulk inched up by one sen to 688.5 sen per kg.

-- BERNAMA