Natural rubber front-month contract rose 5.54% to CNY 20,095/t — its largest single-day gain this year. Typhoon-induced latex tapping disruptions in southern Thailand and strong pre-festival tire factory restocking underpin prices.

Bitumen front-month contract plunged 3.50% to CNY 5,013/t — the second-largest daily drop this year. Municipal road projects delayed due to fiscal disbursement lags, and early autumn cooling in northern China accelerated seasonal demand slowdown.

Asphalt peak season is ending—no surprises: front-month ¥4,748/t down three weeks, East China utilization cut to 62.3% (3-mo low), social drawdown slowed from 1.8%/wk to 0.9%/wk. Import landed cost ¥62–92/t below domestic; arb window shut. Contractors draw down inventories, traders skip forward builds.