Natural rubber futures have hit a two-year high across major Far East exchanges, supported by “concerns over supply-chain disruptions,” rising crude oil prices and stronger China PMI data for March. Over the week ended 3 April, new buying interest and short-covering activities pushed prices to their “highest levels in two years,” reported Japan Exchange Group (JPX) 6 April. Trading volume and open interest also increased during the week, indicating “fresh buying interest entering the market.”
Selected rubber futures price trends on major trading exchanges
Exchange
Commodity
Delivery
Week to 27/03/26
Week to 3/04/26
% Change
Osaka
RSS3
May‘26
360.5 (JPY)
383.1 (JPY)
+6.3%
SHFE
SCR/RSS
May‘26
16,010 (CNY)
16,770 (CNY)
+4.8%
INE
TSR
May‘26
12,855 (CNY)
13,900 (CNY)
+8.1%
SICOM
TSR20
May‘26
188.2 (US$c)
201.5(US$c)
+7.1%
SHFE
BR
Mar‘26
15,600 (CNY)
17,335 (CNY)
+11.1%
(ERJ calculation for selected futures pricing, as tracked by JPX)
Moved 200ktpa synthetic rubber project into trial production
Ningbo, China
RMB3bn (€400m)
SSBR and BR tire materials
26 March
Dynasol
Expanding nitrile rubber production
Altamira, Mexico
n/s
Adding nearly 5ktpa of NBR capacity
25 March
Wanli Tire
Phase III expansion to add 6m units/yr PCR) capacity
Guangzhou, China
n/s
Submitted environmental impact assessment
24 March
Toyo Tire Corp.
Broke ground on new R&D centre
Indjija, Serbia
n/s
Core R&D hub to start up in early 2027
17 March
Mesalas
New tire plant
Afyon, Turkey
€300m
Started up early 2026, focus on farm and industrial tires
16 March
Pirelli
New 3.5m units/yr car tire plant
KAEC, eastern Saudi Arabia
€480m
Expects prod’n to start Q3/27
12 March
MRF Ltd
New tire plant
Iluppaikudi, Sivagangai India
INR53bn
MoU with the government of Tamil Nadu
MARKETS & BUSINESS
Stronger demand from the US and China has helped offset weakening sales in core European markets for Italy’s rubber & plastics processing machinery sector in 2025, according to industry association Amaplast. The sector closed 2025 with production down 5% year-on-year at €4.4bn. Exports, which account for 75% of output, fell 5.2% year-on-year to just over €3.4bn. ERJ report
ERJ has launched the Tire & Rubber Machinery Survey 2026: inviting all manufacturers of machinery & equipment for the tire and rubber industries to participate in this global survey. ERJ report