The outbreak of bird flu in China is expected to lift the rubber market next week, a dealer said.
He said demand for healthcare rubber gloves will increase as a result of the disease.
“The outbreak of any major infectious disease will put substantial pressure on the healthcare services and thus, the improved demand for rubber gloves,” he added.
He said the Malaysian rubber market would also track the movement on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange next week.
On a week-to-week basis, the Malaysian Rubber Board’s official physical price for tyre-grade SMR 20 fell 57.5 sen to 787 sen a kg on Friday, against 844.5 sen per kg on Thursday last week.
The rubber market was closed on last Friday due to the Good Friday holiday.
Latex-in-bulk was down by 21.5 sen to 595 sen a kg from 616.5 sen per kg.
The unofficial sellers’ closing price for tyre-grade SMR20 declined 68 sen to 764 sen a kg versus 832 sen per kg last week, while latex-in-bulk dropped 24 sen to 591.5 sen a kg from 615.5 sen per kg previously.– Bernama
