By Yan Feng

Import and export analysis of natural rubber latex

In 2020, China's natural rubber latex imports amounted to 570 300 tons, a year-on-year increase about 2.87% (the same below). In 2020, China's natural rubber latex imports mainly came from Thailand and Vietnam. The total import volume reached 491 700 tons, accounting about 86.22% of the total import volume, a year-on-year decrease about 3.23%, of which 366 400 tons were imported from Thailand, accounting about 64.25% of the total import volume, a year-on-year decrease about 13.54%; imports of 125 300 tons from Vietnam, accounting about 21.97% of total imports, an increase about 48.64% year-on-year. The imports were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials. The total import volume reached 566 200 tons, accounting about 99.28% of the total import volume, an increase about 3.04% year-on-year. Among them, the import volume of general trade method was 529 800 tons, accounting about 92.90% of the total import volume, an increase about 3.34% year-on-year.

In 2020, China's natural rubber latex export volume was 185.56 tons, a year-on-year decrease about 75.81%. The natural rubber latex were mainly exported to North Korea, and the export volume was 87.19 tons, accounting about 46.99% of the total export volume, a year-on-year decrease about 88.56%.

Synthetic rubber latex export analysis

(1) Carboxyl styrene butadiene rubber latex

In 2020, China's imports of carboxyl styrene butadiene rubber latex were 11 939.97 tons, a year-on-year decrease about 9.34%. The imports were mainly from Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. The total import volume reached 9 512.75 tons, accounting about 79.67% of the total import volume, an increase about 1.99% year-on-year. The imports were mainly based on general trade methods, with the import volume of 9 313.43 tons, accounting about 78.00% of the total import volume, a year-on-year decrease about 18.27%.

In 2020, China's export volume of carboxyl styrene butadiene rubber latex was 13 764.98 tons, a year-on-year decrease about 11.87%. The carboxyl styrene butadiene rubber latex mainly exported to India, Iran, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam, the total export volume reached 13 133.50 tons, accounting about 95.41% of the total export volume, a year-on-year decrease about 2.84%. In 2020, China's carboxyl styrene butadiene rubber latex exports were mainly based on general trade and processing trade with imported materials. The total export volume reached 13 753.94 tons, accounting about 99.92% of the total export volume, a year-on-year decrease about 11.72%.

(2) Styrene butadiene rubber latex

In 2020, China's imports of styrene-butadiene rubber latex amounted to 93 355.30 tons, an increase about 12.81% year-on-year. The imports mainly came from five countries: Germany, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Italy. The total import volume reached 82 115.25 tons, accounting about 87.96% of the total import volume, an increase about 12.17% year-on-year. The imports were mainly based on general trade methods, the import volume was 89 810.28 tons, accounting about 96.20% of the total import volume, an increase about 13.90% year-on-year.

In 2020, China's export volume of styrene-butadiene rubber latex was 8 109.29 tons, a year-on-year decrease about 3.28%. The styrene-butadiene rubber latex mainly exported to 6 countries or regions: China Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates, the total export volume reached 6 938.13 tons, accounting about 85.56% of the total export volume, a year-on-year increase about 0.56%. The export was mainly based on general trade, with an export volume of 7 817.71 tons, accounting about 96.40% of the total export volume, a year-on-year increase about 25.52%.

(3) Neoprene rubber latex

In 2020, China's import volume of neoprene rubber latex was 3 948.64 tons, a year-on-year increase about 23.44%. The imports were mainly from Japan and Germany, and the total import volume was 3 798.33 tons, accounting about 96.19% of the total import volume, an increase about 26.00% year-on-year. The imports were mainly based on general trade methods, with an import volume of 3 13.62 tons, accounting about 96.58% of the total import volume, an increase about 26.06% year-on-year.

In 2020, China's export volume of neoprene rubber latex was 79.02 tons, an increase about 5.43% year-on-year. The neoprene rubber latex were mainly exported to India, the export volume was 59.40 tons, accounting about 75.17% of the total export volume, a year-on-year decrease about 18.96%. All exports were in general trade, an increase about 5.43% year-on-year.

(4) Nitrile rubber latex

In 2020, China's import volume of nitrile rubber latex was 99 965.81 tons, an increase about 18.63% year-on-year. The imports were mainly from Malaysia and South Korea. The total import volume reached 90 710.20 tons, accounting about 90.74% of the total import volume, an increase about 18.56% year-on-year. The imports were mainly based on two types of trade: general trade and processing trade with imported materials. The total import volume reached 99 845.52 tons, accounting about 99.88% of the total import volume, an increase about 18.94% year-on-year.

In 2020, China's export volume of nitrile rubber latex was 49 539.65 tons, a year-on-year increase about 160.81%. The nitrile rubber latex were mainly exported to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, the total export volume reached 47 844.96 tons, accounting about 96.58% of the total export volume, a year-on-year increase about 174.66%. The export was mainly based on general trade, with an export volume of 45 985.02 tons, accounting about 92.82% of the total export volume, an increase about 1 044.84% year-on-year.

(5) Unlisted synthetic rubber latex

In 2020, China's imports of unlisted synthetic rubber latex (mainly including butadiene latex, butyl latex, ethylene propylene latex, isoprene latex and acrylic latex, etc.) were 3 531.37 tons, a year-on-year decrease about 12.43%. The imports were mainly from countries or regions such as Japan, Thailand, France, and China Taiwan. The total import volume reached 3 205.04 tons, accounting about 90.76% of the total import volume, a year-on-year decrease about 12.32%. The imports were mainly based on general trade and processing trade with imported materials. The total import volume reached 3 414.19 tons, accounting about 96.68% of the total import volume, a year-on-year decrease about 12.61%.

In 2020, China's export volume of unlisted synthetic rubber latex was 4 843.22 tons, a year-on-year decrease about 24.28%. The unlisted synthetic rubber latex were mainly exported to Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, the total export volume reached 4 771.84 tons, accounting about 98.53% of the total export volume, a year-on-year decrease about 24.33%. The exports were mainly based on processing trade with imported materials, and the export volume is 4 635.22 tons, accounting about 95.71% of the total export volume, a year-on-year decrease about 26.28%.

Conclusion

In the next few years, it is expected that China's natural rubber latex production capacity will be limited increased and the development of consumption will be steady. Therefore, a relatively large amount of imports will still be needed. At the same time the importing country or region, the import provinces and municipalities, and the pattern of import trade will not change dramatically. The change in the export trade pattern will also be relatively small.

In terms of synthetic latex, with the continuous improvement of production technology and the continuous increase of new product development and the production capacity of some rubber products (for example, Ningbo LG Yongxing Chemical Co., Ltd. plans to build a new nitrile latex production device of 100 000 t/a), the import volume of some synthetic latex will be reduced. At the same time, with the continuous improvement of product quality, the export volume will increase continuously.