Rubber Futures at 10-Month Highs

2026-02-20 16:06 By Luisa Carvalho 1 min. read

Rubber futures traded around 193 US cents per kilogram, close to the highest since April 2025, supported by seasonal supply constraints and expectations of stronger demand.

Most major rubber-producing regions in Southeast Asia have largely concluded rubber tapping as crops move into the off-season.

Rubber trees typically see a brief tapping period in late January, followed by reduced output from February through May, before production picks up again during the peak harvest season, which runs until September.

In the meantime, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) said on February 19 that global demand for natural rubber is projected to exceed production for a sixth straight year in 2026, driven by stronger automotive-sector growth in both emerging and advanced economies.

Global output is projected to increase by 2.4% in 2026, reaching 15.2 million tons while demand is expected to grow by 1.7%, climbing to 15.6 million tons.



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