TOKYO—Natural rubber futures pricing has remained under pressure amid lower trading volumes and concerns over weak economic data from China
All major exchanges monitored by Japan Exchange Group (JPX) reported week-on-week declines during the trading week ended July 5.
In Osaka, Japan, OSE's December 2024 contract dropped 1.3 percent week-on-week in quiet trading, JPX reported in its July 8 filing.
Both trading volume and open interest decreased, indicating "light liquidation and little buying interest," the exchange group said, noting "low sentiment" despite the weakening Japanese yen.
In China, SHFE and INE dropped by 1.5 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, while Singapore's SICOM rubber futures fell by 2.3 percent due to "a lack of physical demand and long-position liquidation."
JPX linked the decline in trading volume to "market uncertainty and the lower trading demand" across all exchanges.
"Weaker economic data from China and the continued decline in the Chinese stock market are putting pressure on rubber prices," it added.
According to JPX, China's Manufacturing PMI in June was 49.5, unchanged for the past three months, indicating "economic stagnation."
