SunSirs: Plastics and Rubber Industries Bulk Commodity Intelligence (September 17, 2026)

Macroeconomics

1. [Fed Rate Hike] The Federal Reserve announced a 25-basis-point hike to the target range for the federal funds rate, raising it to 3.75%–4.00%. This marks the Fed's first rate hike since July 2023.

2. [Gulf States Rate Hikes] On the evening of September 16 (local time), the central banks of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman—among others—announced 25-basis-point rate hikes.

3. [Brazil Rate Cut] The Central Bank of Brazil cut interest rates by 25 basis points for the fifth consecutive time, bringing the rate to 13.75%—in line with expectations. This brings the cumulative reduction to 125 basis points since the easing cycle began in March. While slowing inflation and weakening economic momentum drove the move, a tight election race has created uncertainty regarding the scope for future rate cuts.

Plastics and Rubber

1. [Natural Rubber] On September 16, the natural rubber market in the Qingdao region saw prices rise. Spot traders raised their offers slightly by 100–200 RMB/tonne. Mainstream quotes for 2024-production Yunbao/Guangkeng/Haibao rubber were 18,200–18,400 RMB/tonne; for 2025-production, they were 18,350–18,600 RMB/tonne; and for Vietnam 3L rubber, they were 19,100–19,300 RMB/tonne.

2. [Tires] On the 15th, industry giants ZC-Rubber and Sailun issued price hike notices on the same day. Statistics show that numerous domestic tire companies have announced price increases, affecting all tire categories. Many companies stated that current prices "fall far short of covering costs" and indicated plans for further adjustments in October, signaling that another round of tire price hikes is already underway.