Market Background

Prices Trending High for Natural Rubber, Synthetic Rubber

Natural rubber (NR) continues to trend at high price levels, currently running at around double those of early 2016. A steep run-up has come in a short period of time, spiking since last autumn. The high prices are set to strongly impact profit margins of rubber product manufacturers. Most notable are tire manufacturers, who make heavy use of NR. Current...

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Rubber Belt Production for 2016 Ends 7% Down From Previous Year

The production volume of rubber belts for 2016 fell 7 percent from the previous year, dropping to 26,373 tons, according to statistics from the Japan Belting Manufacturers Association. Conveyor belt production declined 13 percent, down at 14,607 tons. This came as a consequence of a 16-percent year-on-year drop in exports, with a significant depression in exports for mines in Australia....

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Escalating Butadiene Prices to Place Significant Pressure on Synthetic Rubber Manufacturers

The price of butadiene is increasing dramatically. After trending for some time at an Asian spot price near $1,000 per ton, the synthetic rubber raw material started on a rapidly ascending curve in autumn last year. It has resulted in a tripling in value, jumping to approximately $3,000 per ton. The sharp gain in butadiene will have a strong impact...

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JRMA Forecast: Japanese Rubber Consumption to Bounce Back After Six Years

Rubber consumption will see its first annual increase in six years, according to a forecast by the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA). Combined total consumption of natural and synthetic rubber in 2017 is expected to reach 1.2932 million tons, up 0.6 percent year on year. However, total rubber consumption in 2016 is expected to fall for the fifth straight year,...

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Japanese Consumption of New-Rubber for Industrial Use to Increase 3% for 2017, Says JRMA

Consumption of new-rubber for industrial use in Japan is expected to increase 3 percent year-on-year in 2017, according to the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA). With cars being a major source of demand for anti-vibration rubber, the ongoing recovery in domestic automobile production, and the anticipated launch of new car models and intake of orders contribute to the expected increase. Rubber seal...

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Synthetic Rubber Production Regresses Into Negative Territory for September 2016

Total production volume of synthetic rubber fell 9.6 percent year-on-year for the month of September 2016, dropping to 128,830 tons, according to the Synthetic Rubber Industry Association of Japan. It represents a regression back from what was a positive year-on-year total the month prior. Outside of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), which saw a 1.9-percent increase, year-on-year declines were witnessed across all...

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