World Analysis – Rubber

Long-term outlook to 2060

Synthetic elastomers fall broadly into two categories: commodity elastomers and specialty elastomers. Commodity elastomers include styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (PBR), nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), butyl rubber (IIR/HIIR), polyisoprene, and polychloroprene (Neoprene). Specialty elastomers encompass a diverse range of materials, including acrylics, silicones, polyethers (propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin), fluorinated and chlorosulfonated elastomers, polyethylene elastomers, polyurethanes, polysulfide elastomers, and chlorinated polyethylene elastomers. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) form another major category, comprising styrene-block copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyolefins, polyamide TPEs, and copolyester-ether elastomers (COPE).

This World Analysis focuses on the largest commodity elastomers: SBR (solution SBR [S-SBR] and emulsion SBR [E-SBR]), PBR, NBR, and butyl rubber (IIR/HIIR), as well as providing insights into the natural rubber market trends.

Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

SBR is the most widely used synthetic elastomer, with demand heavily concentrated in durable goods, particularly automotive applications. Tires and related products account for approximately 70% of global SBR consumption, while non-tire markets comprise the remaining 25–30%, including automotive components, mechanical parts, adhesives, and various industrial goods.

E-SBR is the most commoditized form of SBR. In contrast, S-SBR plays a critical role in advanced “green tire” technology. When compounded into tire treads, S-SBR enables the use of silica instead of carbon black, reducing rolling resistance and improving fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance.

Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR)

PBR is the second-largest synthetic elastomer by volume. Most PBR is used in tire applications due to its excellent abrasion resistance, making it ideal for tire treads. Additional uses include carcass and sidewall components, plastics modification, and various mechanical and industrial parts. PBR’s flexibility and resilience also help reduce heat buildup in tires.

Nitrile Rubber (NBR) and Hydrogenated NBR (HNBR)

NBR is produced through the emulsion polymerization of 1,3-butadiene and acrylonitrile. It offers outstanding resistance to oils, fuels, and chemicals, making it essential in seals, gaskets, hoses, belts, adhesives, and molded rubber components.

Blending NBR with thermoplastics, such as PVC, ABS, polypropylene, and nylon, enhances toughness, flexibility, and appearance. Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) is utilized for high-performance, high-temperature applications, particularly in oilfield operations, automotive systems (such as O-rings, belts, hoses, and cable jackets), and heavy industrial equipment.

Butyl Rubber (IIR) and Halogenated Butyl Rubber (HIIR)

Butyl rubber is valued for its exceptionally low air permeability, making it ideal for inner tubes, pneumatic components, pharmaceutical stoppers, and air-retention applications.

Halogenated butyl rubber (HIIR) is widely used in tubeless tire inner liners, and, when blended with natural rubber or EPDM, improves ozone resistance and crack resistance in sidewalls. Its high-damping properties also enhance shock-absorbing applications such as automotive suspension bumpers, exhaust hangers, and body mounts. Beyond automotive uses, butyl rubber is important in construction, particularly in roofing membranes and sealing systems.

Long-term outlook to 2060

The World Analysis—Rubber provides an in-depth assessment of the global rubber market, providing comprehensive analysis and strategic insights into the key developments shaping long-term supply, demand, trade, and pricing outlooks. This service equips industry participants with the analytical foundation needed to navigate market volatility and anticipate structural shifts across the rubber value chain.

Subscribers gain access to a full suite of reports, data files, analytical tools, and visualization modules, available online and downloadable from our website, including:

• A strategic report outlining critical insights and the future trajectory of global and regional markets

• Online Data Browser access to supply, demand, and capacity databases

• Continuously updated company/shareholder capacity listings, capacity integration analysis, and rankings of top producers/consumers, including surplus/deficit capacity profiles

• A comprehensive Data Appendix (Excel) featuring supply/demand and capacity tables, plus a dashboard with standard visualizations for all countries and regions

• Excel data files with long-range supply/demand graphics and price forecasts through 2060, along with detailed trade grids showing country- and region-level trade flows with 5- and 10-year projections

• An interactive online dashboard visualizing capacity, integration, supply/demand balances, trade flows, and price, cost, and margin forecasts

• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodology, assumptions, units, conversion factors, and full World Analysis deliverables

• Energy and macroeconomic assumptions used in the long-term outlook

• Price assessment methodology and forecasting framework

Information and insight are provided for the following products: Butyl Rubber, Natural Rubber, Nitrile Rubber, Polybutadiene Rubber, Emulsion SB Rubber, and Solution SB Rubber.

This World Analysis provides detailed intelligence on capacities, production, demand, and trade across all major producing and consuming countries, regions, and global hubs. While robust data collection underpins the historical and forward views, the true value of the service lies in the expert interpretation and market analysis applied by our global team.

Data verification is a central pillar of our approach. Direct engagement with key industry participants ensures that our conclusions reflect real-world market behavior and deliver the most accurate, realistic forward outlook for the global industry.

Long-term outlook to 2060