Polybutadiene rubber (BR) is a high-volume synthetic rubber, which, together with styrene-butadiene rubber, accounts for over 60% of global synthetic rubber production. In terms of synthetic rubber consumption, in 2020, butadiene rubber and emulsion polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (E-SBR) made up over 50% of global synthetic rubber demand. According to the estimates by Sinopec, about 20% of synthetic rubber manufactured globally is polybutadiene rubber. Asia Pacific accounts for the largest share of global polybutadiene rubber production.
Polybutadiene rubber: structure of the global production by region
Polybutadiene rubber is manufactured through the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene, utilizing complex catalysts such as cobalt, titanium, nickel, or neodymium, which yield polymers with varying ratios of cis, trans, and vinyl isomer units. The properties of polybutadiene rubber are determined by these varying isomer ratios. BR features superior mechanical properties, such as good resistance to aging and excellent abrasion resistance. Butadiene itself is made as a by-product in the manufacture of ethylene and propylene. Butadiene can be derived sustainably, for instance, by using bio-based feedstock or in the course of circular economy, i.e. from pyrolysis oil obtained from end-of-life tires (technology developed by Synthos and OMV). A joint project to manufacture bio-based solution-styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) is planned for realization by Idemitsu Kosan, Kumho Petrochemical, and Sumitomo Corporation. A bio-butadiene project will be also realised by Kumho Tire and Synthos Group.
Polybutadiene and its blends are used in various parts of automobile tires, specifically in treads and sidewalls (the tire industry remains a main outlet for polybutadiene rubber). Additionally, polybutadiene has a major application as an impact modifier for polystyrene (such as high-impact polystyrene or HIPS) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins (ABS). It is also widely used in technical and consumer rubber goods, like golf balls (especially “high cis” polybutadiene), running shoes and other footwear, conveyor belts, hoses, cable sheaths, vibration dampers, coated fabrics, etc. These products can be used in various industries, including the car industry. For example, apart from tires, ARLANXEO’s synthetic rubbers (S-SBR, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber, etc.) are applied in sealing products, wiring harnesses, and air springs for the so-called new energy vehicles.
Popular BR brands and their manufacturing companies are as follows: Buna (ARLANXEO, which is one of the world’s largest producers of synthetic rubber and a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco), Europrene (Versalis, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eni Group), SYNTECA (Synthos Group), UBEPOL (UBE Group) and Nipol (Zeon). In 2024, the global market volume of polybutadiene will reach nearly 4.45 million metric tonnes and will continue to grow by 150-200 thousand tonnes annually. However, the behaviour of the regional polybutadiene markets might demonstrate varied dynamics, despite a general trajectory of steady growth. For example, U.S. polybutadiene production dropped from 729 thousand tonnes in 2010 to the current 570 thousand tonnes. In 2023, synthetic rubber consumption in China grew by 6.6%. Likewise, Sinopec recorded a steady growth in synthetic rubber production: 1,252, 1,284, and 1,424 thousand tonnes in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. In Q1-3, the sales of polybutadiene by Thai Synthetic Rubbers Company (a subsidiary of UBE Group) dropped as compared to the same period a year earlier (in Q2 2024, polybutadiene net sales by Thai Synthetic Rubbers Company were USD77.89 million). To sum up, the trends in the polybutadiene market can be characterized by the adoption of sustainable feedstocks, the implementation of circular economy principles, and the diverse dynamics of regional demand.
Find a detailed analysis of the polybutadiene rubber market in the in-demand research report “Polybutadiene Rubber (BR): 2024 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2033”.