Asian physical rubber prices were quoted lower on Friday, tracking a fall in the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, which dipped for the third straight session. Physical trade was busy with more buyers back in the market as prices were quite low compared to last week when latex output was low, traders said.
"There were more buyers in the market, but each of them did not buy big lots.
They are waiting to buy again if TOCOM prices fall further, expecting physical prices to follow," a dealer in Singapore said.
China, the world biggest rubber buyer, was in the market for SIR20 and RSS3 for June shipment, traders said.
Physical prices were expected to slip over the next few weeks as seasonal rain in key producer Thailand eased and allowed output of USS3, the raw material for export-grade rubber sheet, to increase, traders said.