Tokyo rubber futures fell as much as 2.5 percent to a one-week low on Tuesday as investors remained cautious after China trimmed its growth forecast for this year, while weaker oil also pressured prices, dealers said. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for August delivery fell 5.8 yen to settle at 332.6 yen ($4.09) per kg. It dropped to an intra-day low of 330.1 yen, the lowest since February 28.
The most-active Shanghai rubber contract for May delivery fell 390 yuan to finish at 28,530 yuan ($4,500) per tonne. The front-month April contract on SICOM exchange was last traded at 377.0 US cents per kg, down 2.6 cents. "China's plan to trim its growth caused fears about falling demand for rubber and oil prices did not play a supportive role, putting rubber prices under pressure," one dealer said. Supply in Thailand and Malaysia, the biggest and the third-biggest producers respectively, are falling as these countries are in the dry season, when rubber trees produce less latex.
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