Styrene Butadiene Rubber Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Styrene Butadiene Rubber Prices Worldwide
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See below a preview of SBR prices, as an example of prices available. It presents monthly SBR prices in 7 locations: United States, South America, Europe, South Asia & Oceania, China, Middle East, Africa.
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Data Legend. The SBR price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 7 locations, as follows:
- US: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, United States, transaction, cif
- SAM: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, South America, transaction, cif, Brazil
- EUR: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Europe, transaction, fob, Germany
- SEA: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, South Asia & Oceania, transaction, cif, Thailand
- CN: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, emuls, China, spot, exw
- MDE: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Middle East, transaction, cif, Saudi Arabia
- AFR: Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Africa, transaction, cif, South Africa
Data Use. SBR prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 237 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
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Price Dynamics. The SBR price in United States decreased during November 2018 to 2,390 USD per metric ton, which represents a decline of 6% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, SBR prices in United States increased by 6%. Meanwhile, in Germany, the average price of SBR amounted to 2,340 USD per metric ton, from 2,060 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the SBR price in Germany is 3% higher than the price one month before.
The price of SBR in China declined slightly throughout November 2018, reaching 1,720 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 2% lower than the average price in the previous month and 13% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, SBR prices in Thailand increased modestly during November 2018, reaching 1,930 USD per metric ton, which means a rise of 2% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 5% from the previous year’s price.
The SBR prices in Saudi Arabia experienced a decline of 120 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 2,160 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Saudi Arabia meant a decrease of 5% on a monthly basis and a rise of 10% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in November 2018, the SBR price in Brazil witnessed a decline of 10 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 2,130 USD per metric ton. The November 2018 price in Brazil is 6% higher than the price one year before.
In South Africa, the average price of SBR was 2,090 USD per metric ton on November 2018 – a little decrease of 10 USD per metric ton, or 0.5%, compared with the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, the SBR price in South Africa is 6% higher than the price one year before.
About Styrene Butadiene Rubber. 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's 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 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.
Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Styrene Butadiene Rubber are listed below.
- 1,3-Butadiene + styrene (emulsion polymerization),
- 1,3-Butadiene + styrene (solution polymerization)
The uses and applications of Styrene Butadiene Rubber may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Styrene Butadiene Rubber are 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 application. SBR grades produced by hot emulsion process are still employed in specific applications such as adhesives and flow modifiers for other elastomers, due to its good processing characteristics. SBR grades produced by cold emulsion present superior mechanical characteristics, such as abrasion resistance. They are used in numerous applications, 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.
