Crude rubber stocks held at Japanese warehouses edged down 1 percent to 10,136 tonnes by the end of August from 10,235 tonnes on August 20, data from the Rubber Trade Association of Japan showed. Traders said the inventory level was lower than usual, but there was no concern over supply.
Rubber prices have been slumping in the past few weeks, with benchmark Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber futures struggling near eight-month lows. Buyers have been on the sidelines, anticipating further price falls on views that there are sufficient supplies of rubber in key producing countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.