TOKYO: Japanese rubber futures lost over 2% on Tuesday on growing concerns over weaker demand as some countries re-imposed lockdowns to contain the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus. Osaka Exchange's rubber contract for December delivery finished 5.3 yen, or 2.2%, lower at 232.0 yen ($2.1) per kg.

The rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for September delivery fell 275 yuan to finish at 12,845 yuan ($1,989) a per tonne. Officials in several Australian states tightened curbs on movement and pushed for vaccinations to limit flare-ups of the Delta variant.

Meanwhile, the share of Covid-19 cases caused by the Delta variant more than doubled in Germany within a week. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for July delivery last traded at 164.0 US cents per kg, down 0.9%.