Synthetic rubber world consumption

The best known products of macromolecular chemistry are plastics, synthetic rubber and fibres. The world average per capita consumption of plastics exceeded 8 kg (44 kg in the USA and in Japan). The production of synthetic fibres and rubber exceeds the production of the natural materials. A large proportion of these substances is produced by polymerization. 

International Rubber Study Group, Brettenham House, 5-6, Lancaster Place, Strand, London, Rubber Statistical Bulletin, monthly, 1946-. U. S. and world historical data on production, consumption, and supply of natural and synthetic rubber. 

World-wide production and consumption in 1992 ca. 5400000 tN.r. were produced world-wide,3975000 t by the major producing countries Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, exact data are given in Lit.. Information on the production and use of N. r. (as well as synthetic rubbers) is provided by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) and published regularly in specialist journals. 

Although a large number of synthetic elastomers are now available, natural rubber must still be regarded as the standard elastomer because of the excellently balanced combination of desirable qualities. Presently, it accounts for almost 36% of the total world consumption of elastomers, and its gradual replacement by synthetic varieties is partly a result of demand outstripping natural supply. 

World rubber usage of around 25.8 million metric tons is split between natural rubber, which constitutes about 43% of global consumption, and synthetic rubber, of which styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) accounts for 21%. The balance of synthetic rubbers (36%) consists of polybutadiene rubber (BR) and a range of specialty polymers such as polyurethanes, halogenated polymers, silicones, and acrylates. Traditionally, the growth of synthetic and natural rubber consumption is virtually in line with the change in gross domestic product of, collectively. North America, Europe, Japan, China, and India. 

Worldwide consumption of synthetic rubber can be expected to be about 11 million metric tons in 2000 and about 12 million metric tons in 2003, based on earlier reporting (1999) by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers. About 24% is consumed in North America. Estimates depend on which synthetic rubbers are included and reporting sources from world regions. 

Worldwide consumption of synthetic rubber is about 11-12 million metric tons. New synthetic rubber polymerization technologies replacing older plants and increasing world consumption are reasons for new production facilities being built. See also specific synthetic rubbers. 

One of the miracles of the 20th century was the development - in less than four decades - of a vast and versatile synthetic rubber industry. life as we know it today would be impossible without the several types of synthetic rubbers (1-28) stemming from this miracle and manufactured annually in large quantities by this new industry. The production of synthetic rubbers in the United States increased from negligible quantities in 1940 to about 3 million tons in 1987, when the domestic consumption of natural rubber was much less (1 million tons) (17). In 1983 world rubber production was 12 million tons, of which 70% was synthetic United States 1983 consumption of rubber was approximately 2.5 million tons, of which 75% was S3mthetic (22). 

Chewing gum is enjoying increased usage in the world and would be in short supply if chicle were the only base. Other bases now being used include refined pine tree resins from the southeastern U.S., jelutong from Indonesia and Malaysia, and synthetic rubbers such as polyisobutylene and styrene-butadiene rubber. Chicle consumption is estimated in the United States at 1000- 2000 tons per year. 

Polychloroprene or neoprene was one of the first synthetic rubbers available to the rubber industry. It now represents 5% of the world s consumption of rubber and is one of the more important speciality elastomers due to its resistance to lubricating oils and greases, oxygen, ozone, weathering, heat and flame. It has been the subject of continuous modification to meet changing market conditions, the main developments being, in chronological order ... 

Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand are the three main rubber-producing countries in the world in 1994 they contributed 73% to the world s natural mbber production, which was some 5.7 x 106 t (74). In the early 1990s the relative consumption of natural mbber has remained fairly constant at 38—39% of total mbber consumption, despite competition from synthetic mbber. 

About 42% of all rubber consumed in the world is natural rubber (the remaining rubber consumption being synthetic in origin). 

The world productive capacity for butyl rubber (and its related "cousin halobutyl) is about 2 billion pounds annually from over 12 production plants scattered around the world. This volume represents 7% of the world production of synthetic elastomers. It is the fifth largest volume rubber used today and the highest volume specialty elastomer. In fact, the consumption of butyl rubber is comparable in volume to that of the general-purpose elastomers discussed earlier. 

With regard to consumption, although accurate figures for rubber materials and products are hard to obtain for the world economy due to the complexity of the market and the fact that economic factors play such an important role in determining the market price that exists for the raw ingredients at any one point in time, rough estimates place the split in the consumption of NR and all synthetic types of rubber at approximately 40 60, with the dominant synthetic... 

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