Styrene Butadiene Rubber Prices | Current and Forecast
Monitor Styrene Butadiene Rubber Prices Worldwide
Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Monitor monthly Styrene Butadiene Rubber price assessments covering 4 locations: United States, Europe, Southeast Asia and China. Also check SBR 10-year price history and forecasts.
The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices. Subscribe and access now current prices of 225 commodities, including SBR.
Data Legend. The chart above shows SBR price assessments in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 4 locations, as follows:
- SBR, US (United States): Styrene Butadiene Rubber, import transaction price, cif, United States
- SBR (latex), US (United States): Styrene Butadiene Rubber (styrene butadiene latex), export transaction price, fob, United States
- SBR, EUR (Europe): Styrene Butadiene Rubber, export transaction price, fob, Germany
- SBR (latex), EUR (Europe): Styrene Butadiene Rubber (styrene butadiene latex), export transaction price, fob, Germany
- SBR, SEA (Southeast Asia): Styrene Butadiene Rubber, import transaction price, cif, Thailand
- SBR (Emuls), CN (China): Styrene Butadiene Rubber (emulsion), domestic spot price, exw, China
- SBR (latex), CN (China): Styrene Butadiene Rubber (styrene butadiene latex), import transaction price, cif, China
Data Use. SBR prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 225 commodities worldwide. Intratec's methodology employs a structured big data strategy that utilizes advanced technologies to extract publicly available data from primary sources such as governmental trade records, statistics bureaus, and international agencies. This data is then processed through mathematical models to generate reliable assessments, published at the very beginning of each month. To better understand the data provided check Intratec Primary Commodity Prices Methodology .
Data Delivery Methods. SBR price assessments are available via different delivery methods: (i) online charts; (ii) directly into Excel (using Intratec Add-in); (iii) in Power BI dashboards or (iv) a web API (to facilitate integration with existing workflows).
Intratec Primary Commodity Prices
Track global current prices of 225 commodities including SBR
Current Monthly Prices
Price History & Forecasts
Prices in Multiple Countries / World Regions
Prices Directly In Excel
Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Styrene Butadiene Rubber Price Outlook. The price of SBR (United States) decreased during March 2020 to 1,900 USD per metric ton, which represents a slight decline of 2% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, the prices of SBR (United States) decreased significantly by 14%. Meanwhile, the average price of SBR (latex, United States) amounted to 1,330 USD per metric ton, from 1,380 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the price of SBR (latex, United States) is 10% lower than the price one month before.
The price of SBR (Emuls, China) declined considerably throughout March 2020, reaching 1,150 USD per metric ton. The price is 19% lower than the average price in the previous month and 33% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, the prices of SBR (latex, China) decreased modestly during March 2020, reaching 1,200 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 2% from the previous month’s price and a decline of 2% from the previous year’s price.
The prices of SBR (Europe) experienced a significant rise of 150 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 1,800 USD per metric ton. Such price movement meant a rise of 9% on a monthly basis and a decrease of 10% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in March 2020, the price of SBR (latex, Europe) witnessed a decline of 16 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 885 USD per metric ton. The March 2020 price is 13% lower than the price one year before.
About SBR. Styrene Butadiene Rubber (a.k.a. SBR, SBR Latex) is a synthetic polymer made of monomers 1,3-butadiene and styrene. In the copolymer generated, the butadiene molecule may assume three different forms, according to the way it is connected to the styrene component: (1) Cis 1,4-Butadiene; (2) Trans 1,4-Butadiene; and (3) Vinyl Butadiene. It represents by far the biggest market share between synthetic elastomers produced worldwide. This elastomer offers excellent abrasion resistance, excellent water resistance, good physical properties and easy processing. These properties vary depending on the molecular weight and styrene to butadiene ratio. There is two main Styrene-Butadiene polymer types: Styrene-Butadiene Latex and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR). SBR has a higher butadiene content than Latex and this makes it more elastic-like.
SBR production relies mainly on three different processes: (1) hot emulsion polymerization, (2) cold emulsion polymerization, and (3) solution polymerization. Each process results in polymers with different properties. SBR grades generated by emulsion polymerization are usually referred to as emulsion SBR (eSBR), while grades produced by solution processes are usually called solution SBR (sSBR).
Hot emulsion polymerization typically generates SBRs with better dimensional stability and extrusion properties. However, this process has almost completely been replaced by the cold emulsion polymerization, which produces SBR grades with enhanced mechanical properties (e.g., tensile strength and abrasion resistance) in comparison with hot eSBR. Solution SBR processes enable better control of the final polymer properties, because such processes allow a better manipulation of the generated polymer structure. Therefore, sSBR grades have better mechanical properties than both hot and cold eSBR grades (particularly low rolling resistance). However, the narrower molecular weight distribution makes polymer processability more complicated.
SBR Handling. Styrene Butadiene Rubber is usually transported as sheets, by rail cars or trucks. It has a shelf life of 3-5 years, if stored in a cool and dry place, away from rain/direct sunlight, with sealed packing.
SBR Production. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of SBR are listed below.
- 1,3-Butadiene + styrene (emulsion polymerization),
- 1,3-Butadiene + styrene (solution polymerization)
SBR Uses. The uses and applications of Styrene Butadiene Rubber may vary according to its specification. Generically, SBR grades are measured by their styrene content – typically between 23 and 40% (grades can also vary depending on the molecular weight).
Tires manufacturing represent the main application for Styrene-Butadiene Rubber, but, according to the properties of the specific grade produced, SBR is also used in several other applications. SBR grades produced by the hot emulsion process are still employed in specific applications such as adhesives and flow modifiers for other elastomers, due to their good processing characteristics. SBR grades produced by cold emulsion present superior mechanical characteristics, such as abrasion resistance. Therefore, they are used in applications where these characteristics are important, for instance, car and light truck tires; footwears; pharmaceutical and food contact articles; conveyor belts; and even chewing gums. Solution polymerization processes generate SBR grades suitable for high performance applications, including tires with superior wet grip and high resistance shoe soles. SBR can be replaced by other polymers in applications that require extra mechanical or chemical resistance. Some possible substitutes are: polybutadiene, polyisoprene, EPDM rubber, nitrile rubber, and chloroprene rubber.
