Elastic-plastic: New Ceresana Report on the World Market for Synthetic Elastomers

KONSTANZ, Germany - March 1, 2022 - PRLog -- Synthetic rubber is essential for numerous everyday products and technical applications. More than 11.8 million tonnes are consumed each year. This is the fourth time that Ceresana has examined the global market for these elastic plastics.

Main Application: Vehicle Tires

The most important area of application for synthetic elastomers is tires for all types of vehicles: around 54% of total global demand is attributable to original and replacement tires. Elastic materials are also needed for numerous other automotive products: Hoses, cables, seals, window and door profiles, but also for engine mounts or bellows for shock absorbers. Ceresana expects demand for synthetic elastomers in the automotive industry to increase by 2.6% p.a. until 2030.

Technical Rubber Products

The second largest area of application for synthetic elastomers is in dimensionally stable but elastically malleable technical products, such as conveyor belts, roller coverings, molded parts and roof sheeting. There is increasing demand for rubber products from the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, the construction industry and the electrical and electronics industry. Synthetic rubber is also used to modify materials. Ceresana forecasts that demand for elastic plastics in the industrial and construction sectors will increase by 2.4% per year until 2030.

Various Grades of Synthetic Elastomers

Synthetic elastomers are manufactured from raw petrochemical materials, primarily styrene and butadiene. Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is the most important grade at the moment, with around 5.1 million tonnes consumed in 2020. SBR is produced by emulsion polymerization (E-SBR) or by solution polymerization (S-SBR). E-SBR currently accounts for about 62% of total SBR demand. The demand for S-SBR is developing more dynamically, with growth rates of 3.0% per year. The tire industry is the most important market for SBR, as well as for butadiene rubber (BR), butyl rubber (IIR) and polyisoprene (IR).

Market Data on Synthetic Rubber

Chapter 1 provides an analysis of the world market for synthetic elastomers - including forecasts up to 2030: revenues, demand and production.The areas of application for synthetic rubber are analyzed: tires, vehicles, industrial and construction products, modification of materials, other uses. Demand is also analyzed for the types: Styrene-butadiene rubber (E-SBR and S-SBR), Butadiene rubber (BR), Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), Butyl rubber (IIR), Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), Chlorobutadiene (CR) & polyisoprene (IR). Chapter 2 provides a detailed analysis of 25 countries. In addition, the different areas of application are considered. Chapter 3 provides a useful manufacturer directory with the 66 most important elastomer producers.
Further information: https://www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/plastics/synth...