Rubber Market Ends Mixed Amid Supply Concerns, Higher Auto Sales

By Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended mixed on Tuesday amid supply disruptions caused by heavy rains in major rubber-producing countries.

A dealer said the continued rainfall in Southeast Asia hampered rubber tapping, leading to stronger physical prices which boosted market sentiment.

According to her, sentiment was also bolstered by encouraging sales in the global automotive industry, with electric vehicle sales across the European Union reaching a record 1.64 million units in the January-August 2026 period, up 45 per cent year-on-year.

“Meanwhile, sport utility vehicles and trucks continue to account for the majority of new-vehicle sales in the United States, while several sedan models are experiencing sustained sales growth in 2026, led by Honda and Toyota,” she said.

Nevertheless, further gains were capped by mixed signals from regional rubber futures markets, lower crude oil prices and a slightly stronger ringgit against the US dollar.

At 3 pm, Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) was unchanged at 1,053.5 sen per kilogramme (kg), while bulk latex increased 4.5 sen to 758.5 sen per kg.

-- BERNAMA