Rubber Market Ends Mixed Amid Differing US, China Economic Data

By Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended mixed on Monday in tandem with regional rubber futures markets that tracked the economic performance of rubber consuming regions such as the United States and China, a dealer said.

She said US economic growth slowed more sharply than initially thought in the fourth quarter at a 0.7 per cent annualised rate amid downward revisions to consumer spending and business investment, among others.

“US consumer spending increased solidly in January 2026 by 0.4 per cent amid higher prices, and the dragging West Asia conflict threatens to add to inflation, bolstering expectations that the Federal Reserve would not resume cutting interest rates before September,” she told Bernama.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that China's industrial output grew 6.3 per cent in January-February 2026 from the same period last year while retail sales rose by 2.8 per cent.

She said market players remained cautious about the economic fallout from the escalating conflict in the Middle East and building expectations of tighter monetary policy.

“However, further losses were curbed by rising crude oil prices and a weaker ringgit amid concerns of tighter natural rubber supply,” she said.

At 3 pm, the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) 20 eased three sen to 782 sen per kilogramme (kg) while latex in bulk gained five sen to 670 sen per kg.

-- BERNAMA