Kuala Lumpur:The rubber market in Kuala Lumpur concluded with mixed results on Thursday, impacted by weak demand from China. Despite this, concerns over potential supply disruptions helped to support prices, according to a dealer.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the reduced demand from Chinese tyre manufacturers came after the completion of pre-holiday stockpiling. This, along with lower crude oil prices due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, exerted pressure on rubber prices.

Oil prices showed mixed results as traders evaluated signs of recovering crude flows from West Asia against the uncertainty of whether this improvement could be maintained. However, the potential for further price decreases was limited by disruptions in the natural rubber supply from major production areas, increased raw material costs, and the weaker ringgit against the US dollar.

Weather-related issues have affected supply, with rainfall in Thailand impacting the procurement of raw materials and maintaining firmness in latex and cup lump prices. Additionally, El Ni±o risks have raised concerns about future supply, as possible drought conditions in Southeast Asia could impact rubber production.

As of 3 pm, the Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) dropped by 16.5 sen to 1,038.5 sen per kilogramme, while bulk latex rose by six sen to 746 sen per kilogramme.