Rubber futures edge up on fresh buying amid tight physical demand

Natural rubber futures posted modest gains across major Asian exchanges last week, as fresh buying interest and short covering lifted prices following a recent sharp decline. According to Japan Exchange Group (JPX), the Tokyo-based exchange reported “improved physical demand” that supported price increases during the trading week ended 3 July. On the Osaka Exchange (OSE), the November rubber contract closed 0.3% higher week-on-week, trading within a narrow range amid rollover activity. Weekly trading volume on OSE hit its highest level of the year, JPX noted. In Shanghai, both the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) and the INE markets settled up 0.6% week-on-week. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the SICOM September-2026 contract closed 1.8% higher in generally quiet trading, with prices “recovering modestly” after the recent sell-off. JPX highlighted that weekly trading volume fell sharply across SHFE, INE, and SICOM, while OSE saw a modest increase. Throughout the week, consumers continued to pay premiums of 10-28 cents/kg over SICOM futures for nearby deliveries, helping maintain a firm tone. The market remained in a consolidation phase, with prices trading largely sideways.