RUBBER-Japan futures poised for biggest monthly drop since 2017

SINGAPORE, April 30 (Reuters) -

• Japanese rubber futures ticked up on Wednesday, but were set for their biggest monthly loss in eight years as U.S. tariff policies sparked concerns about global demand, while expectations of increased supply also pressured prices.

• The Osaka Exchange (OSE) October rubber contract JRUc6, 0#2JRU: was up 0.24% at 292.6 yen ($2.05) per kg as of 0209 GMT.

• The contract has lost 16.3% so far this month, the biggest monthly slide since February 2017.

• The September rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SNRv1 eased 0.48%, to 14,630 yuan ($2,010.58) per metric ton.

• The most active June butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE SHBRv1 fell 0.13% to 11,245 yuan ($1,545.39) per metric ton.

• U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports into the U.S. have made it probable the global economy will slip into recession this year, according to a Reuters poll.

• While Trump has suspended the heaviest tariffs imposed on almost all trading partners for a few months, a 10% blanket duty remains, as well as a 145% tariff on China, the United States' largest trading partner.

• Still, Trump on Tuesday will soften the blow of his 25% auto tariffs through an executive order mixing credits with relief from other levies on parts and materials, though the tariff relief would not apply to Chinese parts.

• Automobile sales could impact the demand for automobile manufacturing, which uses rubber-made tires.

• In terms of supply, major production areas are entering the harvesting season, and supply is expected to be strong, said Chinese financial information site Tonghuashun Information.

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

• The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for May delivery STFc1 last traded at 169 U.S. cents per kg, up 0.1%.

($1 = 142.5000 yen)

($1 = 7.2765 Chinese yuan)