Renewed fighting between US and Iran has slowed shipping through the Gulf of Hormuz, disrupting supply routes. Benchmark crude prices have climbed sharply from pre-conflict levels, reflecting heightened geopolitical risk. The upward price pressure is likely to continue while tensions persist.
Synthetic Rubber Price Trend Analysis 2026: Market Insights, Historical Prices, Latest News, Supply Demand Analysis & Price Drivers
Written ByPragati Agarwal
Synthetic Rubber Price Trend Q2 2026
| Product | Region | Incoterm Basis | Price | Last Updated Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic Rubber | China | FOB | USD 2,231.69/MT | May 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | USA | CIF | USD 2,351.19/MT | May 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | Germany | FOB | USD 2,325.45/MT | May 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | India | CIF | USD 2,299.34/MT | May 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | Japan | CIF | USD 2,269.75/MT | May 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | China | FOB | USD 2,314.85/MT | April 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | USA | CIF | USD 2,401.85/MT | April 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | Germany | FOB | USD 2,440.85/MT | April 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | India | CIF | USD 2,364.85/MT | April 2026 |
| Synthetic Rubber | Japan | CIF | USD 2,356.85/MT | April 2026 |
Stay updated with the latest synthetic rubber prices, historical data, and tailored regional analysis
Synthetic Rubber Price Trend Q1 2026
- Synthetic rubber prices moved on a strong upward trend in Q1’26, with volatility around the holiday period and sharper gains toward March driven by cost and supply factors.
- Feedstock pressure remained elevated as butadiene and styrene prices increased, supported by crude-linked cost escalation and supply disruptions.
- Downstream demand improved gradually, led by recovery in tire production and export activity, though buyers remained cautious in passing on higher costs.
Asia
In Asia, synthetic rubber prices followed a fluctuating but overall upward trend during Q1’26. In China, prices increased in January due to strong cost support from higher butadiene and styrene prices, along with improved tire plant operations ahead of the Spring Festival. After the holiday, demand recovery remained slow, and supply stayed sufficient, leading to softer prices in February. In March, the market strengthened sharply as feedstock costs rose due to geopolitical disruptions, tightening butadiene availability, and increasing production costs. At the same time, some plants reduced operating rates, and inventories remained low, further supporting prices. Demand also saw improved export activity, with tire export value reaching 26.2 billion RMB in January–February 2026, up 5.8% YoY, indicating steady global demand and supporting regional consumption.
Europe
Synthetic rubber prices in the Europe region showed an increasing trend for Q1'26 owing to the increase in upstream material costs and supply concerns. High energy and logistics prices contributed to higher production costs amid supply shortages of petrochemical feedstocks. Although the tire companies maintained stable demand, the buyers made their purchases only on a need basis. The conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the final month of the quarter had an adverse impact on the European market. This led to increased logistical and insurance costs and caused a short-term supply shortage, which drove a sharp rise in rubber prices during the period.
North America
In Q1’26, the synthetic rubber market witnessed increasing prices amid high raw material costs and tight supply around the globe. Disruptions in logistics caused higher logistics prices and further contributed to the positive pricing dynamics. Automotive and tire segments saw steady demand growth, supporting the market. However, cautious procurement limited any significant rise in prices by the close of the quarter.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, synthetic rubber prices are expected to remain firm, supported by sustained feedstock costs and steady demand, while supply conditions will continue to influence short-term price movement.
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Intensified US-Iran military actions disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a sharp spike in crude oil prices. The price jump leads to severe depreciation of the Indian rupee, raising import costs and inflationary concerns.
The IEA expects world oil demand to decline year-on-year for the first time since 2020, driven by the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure. Prices have eased on prospects of a surplus late in 2026, but renewed hostilities threaten supplies and introduce volatility.
U.S. and Iran reach agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ending the biggest oil supply shock in history. Crude oil futures dropped nearly 5% on the news, with U.S. crude settling at $80.75 and Brent at $83.17. Uncertainty over the timing and demining efforts may temper further price declines.
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Asia
In Q4’25, Synthetic Rubber prices in the Asian market recorded a weak trend. The demand for automotive and tire industries remained low, which impacted the demand for commodity-grade rubber. Chinese suppliers maintained competitive prices, affecting the market in the region. The prices of the feedstock, i.e., butadiene, declined in the quarter as the demand for the same was low, which impacted the prices of the rubber. Despite the good performance of the high-grade rubber used in the original equipment tires, the overall market trend remained weak. Inventories were high in the Chinese market, and the supply-chain issues, such as weather-related risks in Southeast Asia, impacted the prices.
Europe
In Europe, Synthetic Rubber prices continued their downward trend throughout Q4’25. Automotive production and tire manufacturing was low, impacting demand negatively. Additionally, decreasing prices of feedstocks such as butadiene decreased support for prices. Intense rivalry from Asian competitors, particularly from China, further impacted European producers. Although exports of certain grades of high-performance rubber increased, demand for standard grades of rubber was sluggish. Overall, prices continued their downward trend due to a combination of excess supply and weak demand.
North America
In North America, Synthetic Rubber prices kept towards the lower end of the scale during the said period. The reduced vehicle production and replacement tire demand impacted the overall demand. The feedstock direction was bearish, impacted by the global decline in butadiene prices. Some of the market directions were technically based rather than supply-demand fundamentals. Though there were some supply disruptions, like operations-related issues, they were not enough to tighten the market. Buyers were also careful and did not make bulk purchases, which could have helped prices to rise. Overall, prices reduced like the global market.
About Synthetic Rubber
Synthetic Rubber is an artificial elastomer made by the polymerization of petroleum byproducts. It is superior to natural rubber in terms of thermal stability and strong resistance to oil and oxidizing agents. The rubber industry worldwide is looking to other methods of preparing synthetic rubbers rather than petroleum byproducts to reduce the carbon footprint and increase sustainability. Some common types of synthetic rubbers are SBR, silicone, neoprene, etc.
Synthetic Rubber Product Detail
Hs Code
40021990
Cas Number
64706-29-2
Industrial Uses
Automotive Parts, Adhesives, Lubricants, Sporting Goods, Footwear
Supplier Database
Sinopec, DuPont, The Dow Chemical Company, ExxonMobil, Kumho Petrochemical Company Ltd
Regional Coverage
Asia Pacific
China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand
Europe
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece
North America
United States and Canada
Latin America
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru
Africa
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Synthetic Rubber Production Process
- Production of Synthetic Rubber from Raw Sugar; from Glucose; from Isoprene
The process using glucose involves fermentation of a 70% w/w glucose solution to produce isoprene. This reaction intermediate undergoes solution-step polymerization to obtain Polyisoprene.
About the Author
Pragati Agarwal
Senior Business Insights Analyst
Delivering price trend analysis and procurement market insights at Procurement Resource, with expertise in identifying commodity patterns, supporting purchasing strategies, and improving cost efficiency through actionable market intelligence.
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