Kuala Lumpur: The local rubber market ended higher on Tuesday in line with most of its regional peers as sentiment was lifted after the United States (US) delayed imposing tariffs on China, a dealer said.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, further gains were capped by a drop in oil prices, coupled with a stronger ringgit against the US dollar. A dealer mentioned that Japanese rubber futures traded higher as the delay in US tariffs on China boosted market sentiment, although concerns over seasonal demand limited the rise.

It was reported that US President Donald Trump had directed federal agencies to assess China's performance under the "Phase 1" trade deal signed with Beijing in 2020. This action was intended to end nearly two years of tariff wars. Additionally, it was noted that Trump did not impose any trade tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada on the first day of his presidency.

At 5 pm, Brent crude oil prices decreased by 0.61 percent to US$79.64 per barrel, impacting the rubber market gains.

The Malaysian Rubber Board reported that at 3 pm, the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) increased by 11.5 sen to 891 sen per kilogramme, while latex in bulk inched up by two sen to 647 sen per kg.