Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures ended down 3.9 percent on Wednesday after hitting a five-year low earlier in the day, hurt by worries about demand in top consumer China. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) for March delivery fell 7.1 yen to settle at 176.4 yen ($1.61) per kg. Earlier in the day, the contract fell to as low as 175.5 yen, the lowest since July 2009.
Shanghai rubber markets are closed for a week-long National Day holidays that started from Wednesday. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for November delivery last traded at 137.50 US cents per kg, down 6.5 cents.