On 14 September NR prints at ¥19,150/t (-0.98%) while BR prints at ¥14,910/t (-3.84%). The two rubber lines diverge: butadiene rubber falls on cheaper feedstock and tyre-maker hedging, while natural rubber holds on weather premiums.

Butadiene rubber futures closed at ¥14,910/t, down 3.84%—the largest daily decline this month; falling natural rubber prices widen substitution opportunities for buyers.

On Sep 1, bitumen futures stood at CNY 4,934/t and fuel oil at CNY 3,788/t, widening the spread to CNY 1,146/t — the highest since Jan 2026 (+5.1% w/w). Key drivers: East China asphalt plant utilization rose to 68.3%, while low-sulfur fuel oil export quotas tightened and Singapore’s ARA stockpiles fell 2.1%. We recommend immediate bitumen procurement to lock in refining margin window.