Market Study: Styrene-Butadiene Rubber

The Best-Selling Synthetic Rubber

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is the best-selling synthetic rubber and for decades, has been indispensable for many applications. In everyday life, SBR is mainly found in vehicle tires. According to a recent market study by Ceresana, worldwide consumption for this elastomer type amounts to about 5.1 million tonnes. More than half of global demand is generated in the region Asia-Pacific. Analysts at Ceresana expect global market volume of SBR to increase by 2.0% p.a. until 2025.

 

Butadiene and Styrene

Styrene-butadiene rubber is a copolymer consisting of the chemicals butadiene and styrene. SBR is produced by emulsion polymerization (E-SBR) or by solution polymerization (S-SBR). E-SBR is accounting for about 72% of total demand. The smaller S-SBR market, however, is accounting for much more dynamic growth rates of 3.8% per year.

 

Tires Are the Most Important Application

The most important sales market for SBR in 2017 was the segment tires: More than 67% of total worldwide demand was generated by tires and replacement tires. Tires are mainly made of SBR, butadiene rubber, and natural rubber. E-SBR is mostly used for standard tires. In contrast, S-SBR is needed to manufacture tires with high abrasion resistance and low rolling friction.

 

Growing Demand for SBR

The manufacture of industrial products is the second largest application area worldwide, consuming about 740,000 tonnes. From the chemical industry to mechanical engineering to the electrical and electronics industry, SBR is required for a wide range of applications, such as conveyor belts, roll covers, hoses, profiles, seals, cables, adhesives, moldings, and the modification of plastics. In the construction industry, SBR is also used for pipes, roofing films, and for the modification of other building materials. SBR is also needed for numerous sports and consumer goods.

 

The Study in Brief:

Chapter 1 provides a description and analysis of the global SBR market, including forecasts up to 2025: The development of revenues, demand volumes, and production is analyzed for each region of the world.

Chapter 2 offers a detailed analysis of 23 countries: Demand, export, import, production, capacities, and revenues in regard to SBR. Additionally, demand split by applications is examined in regard to these countries. Market data on demand are split by types of SBR for each country.

Chapter 3 analyzes the different types of application areas of SBR in detail: Data and influencing factors on the use in tires, industrial products (conveyor belts, roll coverings, consumer goods, tubes, adhesives, moldings, etc.), construction products (pipes & pipe gaskets, cables, roofing films, profiles), as well as other application areas (leisure and sports products, protective clothing, soles, gloves, and textiles).

Chapter 4 examines the demand for SBR in the regions Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North and South America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa - split by E-SBR and S-SBR.

Chapter 5 offers a useful directory of the 41 most important producers, clearly arranged according to contact details, revenues, profit, product range, production sites, profile summary, and information on capacities. The most important manufacturers include: Arlanxeo Holding B.V. , Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, JSR Corporation , Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., PetroChina Company Ltd., Sinopec Corp., Synthos S.A., TSRC Corporation, Trinseo S.A., and Versalis Corporation.

https://www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/plastics/styrene-butadiene-rubber/