RUBBER-Japan futures dip on US tariff worries

SINGAPORE, Feb 25 (Reuters) -

• Japanese rubber futures edged lower on Tuesday, weighed down by concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans, although losses were limited by prospects of tighter supply from top producer Thailand.

• The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for August delivery JRUc6, 0#2JRU: was down 1.6 yen, or 0.43%, at 372 yen ($2.48) per kg, as of 0214 GMT.

• The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for May delivery SNRv1 rose 60 yuan, or 0.34%, to 17,925 yuan ($2,469.52) per metric ton.

• The most-active February butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE SHBRv1 ticked up 80 yuan, or 0.59%, to 13,750 yuan ($1,894.33) per metric ton.

• U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that tariffs on Canadian and Mexico imports are "on time and on schedule."

• The tariffs would apply to over $918 billion worth of imports, hitting the automotive sector particularly hard.

• Automobile sales could influence the intensity of automobile manufacturing, which involves using rubber-made tyres.

• Trump signed a memorandum last week to restrict Chinese investment in strategic areas, dampening market sentiment.

• Meanwhile, harvesting has ended in Vietnam and northeastern Thailand, and production in southern Thailand has dropped significantly, resulting in lower global supply, Chinese commodities data provider Longzhong Information said in a note.

• Rubber crops usually undergo a season of low production from February to May, before a peak harvesting period that lasts until September.

• Thailand's meteorological agency warned of heavy rains and accumulations in the South during February 24-25.

• The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for March delivery STFc1 last traded at 206 U.S. cents per kg, down 0.1%.

($1 = 150.0100 yen)

($1 = 7.2585 Chinese yuan)