BR (Butadiene Rubber) Price Trend and Forecast

BR (Butadiene Rubber) Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of BR (Butadiene Rubber) in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Butadiene Rubber Price Trend for the First Half of 2024

Asia

In the Asian markets, the price trend for butadiene rubber was largely optimistic throughout the first half of 2024. In China, the recovery from the COVID-19 economic downturn progressed slowly, but efforts to boost manufacturing led to an increase in downstream demand for butadiene rubber. Sectors like tires, automotive, and industrial manufacturing, including belts and other components, demonstrated robust demand, prompting suppliers to raise prices. Similarly, in India, butadiene rubber witnessed favorable price performance due to increased raw material costs and steady demand from the manufacturing sector.
 

BR (Butadiene Rubber) Price Chart

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In the second quarter, the Asian market experienced a sharp surge in butadiene rubber prices. Despite a slowdown in electric vehicle production due to delays in government subsidies, strong downstream demand from the automotive sector and higher sales of high-value-added products such as larger tires helped maintain a positive market trend. Market participants also actively accumulated inventories to meet current demand, further supporting the upward trajectory in prices. This bullish trend is expected to persist due to sustained demand and proactive inventory management by suppliers.

Europe

In Europe, the price dynamics for butadiene rubber were heavily influenced by fluctuations in crude oil prices resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Disruptions in oil supplies, triggered by missile strikes on key refining locations in Russia and reductions in output from other OPEC+ countries, created a ripple effect across the petrochemical industry, inflating butadiene rubber prices.

While there were occasional dips in demand due to shifts in the automotive sector, high production, and shipping costs kept the European market relatively stable. The market performance during the first quarter was mixed, with sporadic fluctuations attributed to the subdued dynamics of the automotive industry and limited momentum in the electric vehicle sector. Although some support came from the feedstock industries, it was insufficient to push butadiene rubber prices significantly higher.

North America

In North America, the price trajectory for butadiene rubber closely aligned with trends observed in Asia and Europe. The market began steadily, with industrial activities subdued in the early days of the New Year holiday season. As the months progressed, however, the market faced mounting shipping and logistical challenges, exacerbated by geopolitical events such as attacks on cargo vessels by Houthi rebels, which disrupted international trade and increased reliance on domestic markets.

In the United States, butadiene rubber prices showed gradual fluctuations from the mid-phase of the second quarter. Although feedstock prices for butadiene rose, the market momentum for butadiene rubber was hampered by weak purchasing activity and ongoing destocking trends. Reduced demand from the tire industry and adverse foreign exchange fluctuations further contributed to price instability. While some investors expanded investments in tire manufacturing to boost production capacity, this did not immediately translate into increased butadiene rubber demand, leaving the market sentiment cautious throughout the period.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price of Butadiene Rubber is expected to exhibit a bearish momentum in the upcoming sessions. This anticipated price decrease is linked to ongoing inventory destocking due to lower demand from downstream markets and underperformance in economic activities, further influencing the market's demand.
 

BR (Butadiene Rubber) Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

Stay updated with the latest BR (Butadiene Rubber) prices, historical data, and tailored regional analysis
 

Asia

Butadiene rubber prices showcased swift fluctuations during the second half of the year 2023. In the Chinese BR market, the prices first escalated by about 22% in the third quarter as the demands rose from the rubber industry. However, the situation reversed quickly as the fourth quarter of the year saw an approximate 4% depreciation in prices. Nonetheless, an overall incline of about 13% was seen in the BR prices over the discussed months. The monthly average prices went from around 1486 USD/MT in July’23 to about 1694 USD/MT in December of 2023. This shift in price trend depicted an overall positively inclined market despite some fluctuations.

Europe

The European market trend for butadiene rubber was in total contradiction with the Asian price trend. The prices here observed a sliding trajectory for the majority of the discussed period. Since the inventories were running high and the industrial demands slumped the price trend turned southward. Although some reverse fluctuation was witnessed in the latter half of the fourth quarter, the overall market sentiments remained largely muted.

North America

The American market trend for butadiene rubber closely resembled the European prices for BR during the last six months of 2023. The prices were observed to be falling steadily throughout the third quarter and continued in the same way for the early part of the last quarter as well. It was in the middle of the last quarter that the prices started to improve marginally, and with this shift in the price trajectory, the future projections also look positive for the North American BR market.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Butadiene Rubber market is expected to sustain its growth momentum in the coming months; since the demand curve is projected upwards, the price trend is likely to remain inclined as well.
 

Butadiene Rubber (BR) Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

Butadiene Rubber (BR) prices in the Asian market followed a fluctuating pattern in the first half of 2023. PBR prices first had a jerky jump of about 9% from January to February, as the approaching Chinese New Year holidays stimulated the hoarding sentiments of buyers. But the prices soon turned downward and remained on a declining trajectory afterward.

An overall decline of around 15% was observed from February to June 2023. The second quarter closed at around 1463 USD/MT (CIF, China) in June’23. The stagnant downstream demand from tires and the plastics industry guided these price patterns. The overstocked market inventories called for production cuts to stabilize the current market sentiments.

Europe

European Butadiene Rubber (BR) prices behaved almost similarly to the Asian market. The economic backlash unveiled by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war contracted the purchasing patterns of consumers.

Purchases became more and more essential-centric, which negatively impacted the market demands. The muted demand was easily met with the existing supplies; hence no positive price movement was seen. With China actively dumping its cheap imports in the European markets, the price trend for butadiene rubber suffered.

North America

Butadiene Rubber (BR) prices had a mixed run in the North American market. Prices rose a little during the early months of the first quarter, but the lowered demands pushed the prices southwards. The automotive sector here was still active and more alive compared to other places; hence the downstream demand kept stable. But the restored freight facilities and cheap Asian imports affected the market's overall momentum, thereby aiding the downfall of Butadiene rubber prices.

Analyst Insight

According to the Procurement Resource, the price trend for Butadiene Rubber (BR) are expected to remain on the lower side of the curve. With the supply chain and trade normalization, the pricing fundamentals will directly depend on the pace at which the downstream demands rebound.
 

Butadiene Rubber Price Trend for the Second Half of 2022

Asia

Butadiene Rubber prices remained almost constant throughout H2 2022. Prices for the Asian markets remained very little high swinging. Supply and upstream situations had been restored by the middle of H2, but the bearish market demand drove the price trend. As the feedstock butadiene is derived from petroleum, variation in its prices directly impacted the Butadiene Rubber prices.

Europe

The European Butadiene Rubber market had an almost flattened run during the concerned period. As the crumbled economic activities resulted in very high inflation and a surge in prices in the first half of the year, H2 witnessed the normalisation of supply chains and the opening of trade without port congestions. But bearish demands from the end consumer market caused the prices of butadiene rubber to remain on a lowered trajectory.

North America

North American market behaved no differently to the Asian market when it comes to Butadiene Rubber. The sullen end consumer demand remained the major detrimental factor. The BR prices fell considering the overflowing inventories, declining demand, low buyer confidence, and runaway inflation.

Analyst Insight

According to the Procurement Resource, the Butadiene Rubber price trend are expected to remain on the lower side of the curve in the coming months. As the supply structure improved, the rebounding end consumer demand is going to be the driving factor for the Butadiene Rubber market.
 

BR (Butadiene Rubber) Price Trend For the First Half of 2022

Asia

The price trend for Butadiene Rubber reached an all-time high during the said period due to the soaring crude oil and gas prices. The petrochemical industry suffered owing to inflated freight charges, low production levels, supply constraints, and depleting inventories, causing the manufacturers to raise their prices. The strong demand from the downstream automotive and polymer industry kept the prices afloat. The price of butadiene rubber averaged 2215 USD/MT during the said period.

Europe

Faced with the direct consequences of the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a staggering energy crisis unfurled in the European markets. The surging power costs caused the industries to slow or halt production, thereby creating massive shortages in the market.

The supply-side constraints amid robust demand caused the manufacturers to raise their quotations to cushion their profit and pass the inflationary pricing to the customers. Hence, the price trend for butadiene rubber kept on the higher end of the scale during the said period.

North America

Butadiene Rubber prices averaged 2840 USD/MT in the US domestic market. These inflated prices were due to the surging crude oil and gas prices. The growing demand amid supply issues, reduced inventories, labour shortages, and poor logistics caused the prices to swell drastically. Even with the relaxing cost upstream cost pressure in Q2, the prices still inclined due to the heightened demand from the polymer and automotive sectors.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, butadiene rubber prices will remain anchored in the market with marginal fluctuations. The demand is likely to stay strong, furthering the raised market quotations. The market dynamics are expected to remain healthy in the coming months.
 

Butadiene Rubber (BR) Price Trend For the Year of 2021

After styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR) is the second most significant form of synthetic rubber. Butadiene is polymerized to produce BR. Products made of BR have excellent abrasion resistance, high resilience, outstanding insulating qualities, and stay flexible at low temperatures.

In Q4 of 2021, the average butadiene rubber price in China was recorded at 2350 USD/MT in October, 2480 USD/MT in November, and 2530 USD/MT in December. Several market participants in North America said that demand from the tyre and footwear industries remained strong during the fourth quarter, ending 2021 on a high note in terms of output and revenue.

Polybutadiene rubber (PBR) use had surged in Q4 of 2021. Meanwhile, supply fundamentals had improved following a difficult third quarter in which truck availability was described as severely limited throughout the North American region. After a tumultuous third quarter, feedstock butadiene prices eased in the fourth quarter. The above demand pattern had been vindicated by polybutadiene rubber prices, which had continued to rise throughout Q4.

The price of PBR was assessed at 2550 USD/MT in early October, and concluded the quarter at 2760 USD/MT in December. PBR prices in Asia dropped from 2326 USD/MT in October to 2210 USD/MT FOB in December. Increased consumption benefited the PBR market in Europe, and the Ex-work price jumped from 2630 USD/MT in October to 2890 USD/MT in December. The butadiene market continued to rise, putting pressure on manufacturers to keep PBR prices stable during Q4.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of BR (Butadiene Rubber). Each price database is tied to a user-friendly graphing tool dating back to 2014, which provides a range of functionalities: configuration of price series over user defined time period; comparison of product movements across countries; customisation of price currencies and unit; extraction of price data as excel files to be used offline.