Kuala lumpur: The rubber market ended higher today, with Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) reaching a new high this year, amid supply concerns in Thailand due to persistent heavy rainfall.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, expectations of stronger demand and El Ni±o-related production risks supported sentiment, while tighter US monetary policy limited gains. A dealer noted that El Ni±o risks provided additional support, as the weather phenomenon is expected to peak between September and November, increasing the risk of further production cuts.

At 3 pm, the price of SMR 20 increased 27 sen to 985.5 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex in bulk added 10 sen to 700.5 sen per kg.