Natural rubber futures slip in subdued trading week

Natural rubber (NR) futures slipped marginally during the second week of August as trading volumes and price action remained subdued across global exchanges. According to the Japan Exchange Group (JPX), the week ended 14 August saw “slow and subdued” activity, with prices confined to a narrow range and lacking clear direction. Weekly trading volume also declined across all exchanges, JPX reported in its weekly natural rubber market update released 17 August. Consumer buying “largely matched producer offers,” the report noted, with physical rubber prices holding at a US$0.15 per kilogram premium over spot-month prices. In Osaka, Japan, the OSE January-2027 contract ended the week down 0.1% in quiet, listless trading. In Shanghai, China, the SHFE and INE rubber futures closed down 0.5% and 0.6% week-on-week, respectively. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the SICOM active October-2026 contract closed virtually unchanged compared to the previous week. The subdued price action reflects balanced demand and supply conditions, with no significant catalysts driving directional movement during the period.