Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures fell 1.3 percent on Thursday, tracking declines in Shanghai markets amid worries over rubber demand in China, though volumes returned to normal as Thailand markets returned after holidays, brokers said. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) for September delivery fell 2.9 yen to settle at 214.9 yen ($2.10) per kg.
"Thailand's central markets reopened an volumes at TOCOM returned to normal," said a Tokyo-based broker. The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for September delivery fell 275 yuan to finish at 14,800 yuan ($2,400) per tonne. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for May delivery last traded at 177.00 US cents per kg, down 3.7 cents.