Rubber futures recently surged to nearly 190 US cents per kilogram, a peak not reached since April 2025. This increase is partly driven by rising oil prices, which diminish the attractiveness of synthetic rubber alternatives. Additionally, supply concerns have intensified as the tapping season in significant Asian producer countries like Thailand and Vietnam is coming to an end. Typically, rubber crops undergo a brief tapping season starting late January, followed by a low-production phase from February to May, before reaching a peak harvesting period that continues until September. Concurrently, the anticipation of pre-Lunar New Year restocking activities in China has bolstered demand forecasts, though this might be somewhat offset by reports of growing inventories at Qingdao port.