Xiaoming

Synthetic rubber (SR) in China, after years of development, enjoys increasing production capacity and output. However, China still needs to import a large number of products every year to meet domestic demand, due to insufficient development in high-end technology and relatively sluggish development of new products and applications. At the same time, there are also some products exported to the international market.

According to customs statistics, from 2017 to 2021, the import volume of the China eight major rubber varieties presents a down and up and then down trend. The eight varieties include styrene-butadiene rubber (including solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber and emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber), polybutadiene rubber, butyl rubber (including ordinary butyl rubber and halogenated butyl rubber), nitrile rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber (including ethylene propylene diene monomer and ethylene-propylene copolymer), neoprene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber. In 2021, due to the reduction of foreign supply, high prices, and stable consumption in China domestic market, the import volume of China's synthetic rubber dropped significantly to merely 1 189 700 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 16.4%, which is the lowest in recent years. On the contrary, the export volume in the meantime has enjoyed a steady increase.

Styrene-butadiene rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of styrene-butadiene rubber in China showed a down and up and then down trend. Figure 1 shows the import volume changes of styrene-butadiene rubber in China from 2017 to 2021.

Figure 1 The import volume changes of styrene-butadiene rubber in China  from        2017 to 2021

In 2021, China's styrene-butadiene rubber mainly imported from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, Germany and Poland, with a combined volume of 301 400 tons, accounting for about 84.0% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 5.6%.

In 2021, China's import of styrene-butadiene rubber was mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials, with a combined volume of 315 400 tons, accounting for about 87.9% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 7.6%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of styrene-butadiene rubber in China showed down and up and then down trend as well. In 2021, China's styrene-butadiene rubber mainly exported to Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan of China, India and Vietnam, with a combined volume of 58 261.70 tons, accounting for 86.9% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 38.8%.

In 2021, China's export of styrene-butadiene rubber was mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and goods trade in special customs supervision areas, with a combined volume of 63 331.90 tons, accounting for about 94.5% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 35.6%.

Polybutadiene rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of polybutadiene rubber in China showed a down and up and then down trend. The import volume in 2021 was 187 900 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 34.0%. Figure 2 shows the import volume changes of polybutadiene rubber in China from 2017 to 2021.

Figure 2 The import volume changes of polybutadiene rubber in China from 2017 to 2021

In 2021, China's polybutadiene rubber mainly imported from South Korea, Taiwan of China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Singapore and Russia, with a combined volume of 141 700 tons, accounting for about 75.4% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 35.2%. China's import of polybutadiene rubber was mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials, with a combined volume of 160 000 tons, accounting for about 85.2% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 36.0%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of China's polybutadiene rubber saw a steady increase year by year, of which the export volume in 2017 was 42 193.04 tons, and surged to 90 973.86 tons in 2021. There was a year-on-year increase of about 26.6% in 2021, compared to the 71 838.56 tons in 2020.

In 2021, China's polybutadiene rubber mainly exported to South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong of China and Vietnam, with a combined volume of 76 370.07 tons, accounting for 83.9% of the total volume, a year-on-year increase of about 32.8%. China's export of polybutadiene rubber was mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and goods trade in special customs supervision areas, with a combined volume of 85 103.36 tons, accounting for 93.6% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 57.54%.

Butyl rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of butyl rubber in China showed a down and up and then down trend. The import volume in 2017 was 275 500 tons, and down to 217 700 tons in 2021. There was a year-on-year decrease of about 23.4% in 2021, compared with the 284 000 tons in 2020. Figure 3 shows the import volume changes of butyl rubber in China from 2017 to 2021.

Figure 3 The import volume changes of butyl rubber in China from 2017 to 2021

In 2021, China's butyl rubber mainly imported from the United States, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Russia, with a combined volume of 196 700 tons, accounting for about 90.4% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 23.1%. China's import of butyl rubber was mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials, with a combined volume of 167 500 tons, accounting for 76.9% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 25.4%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of butyl rubber in China showed a development trend of first increasing, then decreasing, and then increasing year by year. The export volume in 2021 was 37 690.11 tons, a year-on-year increase of about 96.4%.

In 2021, China's butyl rubber mainly exported to Hong Kong of China, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Canada, with a combined export volume of 28 230.68 tons, accounting for about 74.9% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 173.7%. China's export of butyl rubber were mainly based on general trade, with an export volume of 32 396.51 tons, accounting for 86.0% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 109.9%.

Ethylene-propylene rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of ethylene-propylene rubber in China showed a development trend of first increasing and then decreasing year by year, of which the import volume in 2021 was 242 500 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 7.0%. Figure 4 shows the export volume changes of ethylene-propylene rubber in China from 2017 to 2021.

Figure 4 The export volume changes of ethylene-propylene rubber in China from       2017 to 2021

In 2021, China's ethylene-propylene rubber mainly imported from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, with a combined import volume of 189 800 tons, accounting for about 78.3% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 8.6%. China's import of ethylene-propylene rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials, with a combined import volume of 231 900 tons, accounting for about 95.6% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 1.4%. Among them, the import volume of general trade was 218 300 tons, accounting for about 90.0% of the total import volume, a year-on-year decrease of about 1.4% and the import volume of processing trade with imported materials was 13 600 tons, accounting for about 5.6% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 1.5%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of ethylene-propylene rubber in China showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing year by year. Among them, the export volume in 2021 surged to 39 159.61 tons, a year-on-year increase of about 107.3%.

In 2021, China's ethylene-propylene rubber mainly exported to Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Taiwan of China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia, with a combined export volume of 29 728.75 tons, accounting for about 75.9% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 141.2%. China's export of ethylene-propylene rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing with supplied materials, with a combined export volume of 34 823.19 tons, accounting for 88.9% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 113.0%.

Nitrile rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of nitrile rubber in China showed a down and up and then down trend, of which the import volume in 2021 was 89 387.23 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 6.4%.

In 2021, China's nitrile rubber mainly imported from South Korea, Japan, France and Russia, with a combined import volume of 78 929.41 tons, accounting for about 88.3% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 8.8%. China's import of nitrile rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials, with a combined import volume of 78 069.66 tons, accounting for about 87.3% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 5.6%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of nitrile rubber in China showed a continuous growth trend in general, of which 2020 was exception. The export volume in 2021 was 9 223.89 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 23.6%.  

In 2021, China's nitrile rubber mainly exported to Malaysia, Poland, Thailand, Taiwan of China and Vietnam, with a combined export volume of 5 449.84 tons, accounting for 59.1% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 11.3%. China's export of nitrile rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and goods trade in special customs supervision areas, with a combined export volume of 8 858.18 tons, accounting for about 96.0% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 25.3%.

Thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber in China showed a down and up and then down trend, of which the import volume in 2021 was 38 591.38 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 23.5%.

In 2021, China's thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber mainly imported from Taiwan of China, Russia, the United States, South Korea and Japan, with a combined import volume of 35 462.27 tons, accounting for about 91.9% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 25.5%. China's import of thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and goods trade in special customs supervision areas, with a combined import volume of 33 020.72 tons, accounting for about 85.6% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 23.4%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber in China showed a up and down and then up trend, of which, the export volume in 2021 was 30 447.87 tons, a year-on-year increase of about 38.3%.

In 2021, China's thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber mainly exported to the Netherlands, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States, India and Taiwan of China, with a combined export volume of 15 648.15 tons, accounting for about 51.4% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 27.6%. China's export of thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and goods trade in special customs supervision areas, with a combined export volume of 28 262.82 tons, accounting for about 92.8% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 41.0%.

Polyisoprene rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of polyisoprene rubber in China showed a down and up and then down trend, of which the import volume in 2021 was 36 960.77 tons, a year-on-year decrease of about 19.7%.

In 2021, China's polyisoprene rubber mainly imported from Russia and Japan, with a combined import volume of 35 974.53 tons, accounting for about 97.3% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 19.9%. China's import of polyisoprene rubber were mainly based on two trade methods: general trade and processing trade with imported materials, with a combined import volume of 33 682.47 tons, accounting for 91.1% of the total, a year-on-year decrease of about 21.7%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of polyisoprene rubber in China showed a development trend of first decreasing year by year and then increasing year by year. Among them, the export in 2017 was 2 179.84 tons and plummeted to 779.29 tons in 2019, then bottomed up and surged to 4 591.19 tons in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 279.1%, from 1 210.95 tons in 2020

In 2021, China's polyisoprene rubber mainly exported to Malaysia and Vietnam, with a combined export volume of 2 999.63 tons, accounting for 65.3% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 356.2%. The export was mainly based on general trade method, with an export volume of 4 195.57 tons, accounting for 91.4% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 258.8%.

Neoprene rubber

1. Import analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the import volume of neoprene rubber in China showed a development trend of decreasing year by year and then increasing, of which the import volume in 2021 was 17 754.20 tons, a year-on-year increase of about 13.1%.

In 2021, China's neoprene rubber mainly imported from Japan and Germany, with a combined import volume of 17 396.98 tons, accounting for about 98.0% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 13.8%. The export was mainly based on general trade, with an import volume of 13 504.12 tons, accounting for about 76.1% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 17.0%.

2. Export analysis

From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of neoprene rubber in China showed a up and down then up trend, of which the export volume in 2021 was 14 804.73 tons, a year-on-year increase of about 35.5%.

In 2021, China's neoprene rubber mainly exported to India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, with a combined export volume of 7 199.20 tons, accounting for 48.6% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 50.5%. Exports were mainly from four provinces and cities of Shanxi, Zhejiang, Chongqing and Shandong, with a combined export volume of 13 004.68 tons, accounting for 87.8% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 40.3%. The export was mainly based on general trade, with an export volume of 14 729.15 tons, accounting for about 99.5% of the total, a year-on-year increase of about 35.5%.

Summarize

To sum up, from 2017 to 2021, the import volume of synthetic rubber in China generally showed a downward trend and the eight major varieties got reduced on different degrees in 2021, of which  neoprene rubber was the only exception, increased by about 13.1% year-on-year. The condition of the other varieties was as below: styrene-butadiene rubber decreased by about 8.5% year-on-year, polybutadiene rubber decreased by about 34.0% year-on-year, butyl rubber decreased by about 23.4% year-on-year, ethylene-propylene rubber decreased by about 7.0% year-on-year, nitrile rubber decreased by about 6.4% year-on-year, thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber decreased by about 23.5% year-on-year, and polyisoprene rubber decreased by about 19.7% year-on-year. Sources of imports were mainly Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the United States, Japan, Germany, South Korea and Russia and other countries and regions. And the trade methods were mainly the general trade and processing trade with imported materials.

     From 2017 to 2021, the export volume of synthetic rubber in China presented a continuous growing trend and the eight major varieties got increased on different degrees in 2021, of which nitrile rubber was the only exception, decreased by about 23.6% year-on-year. The condition of the other varieties was as below: styrene-butadiene rubber increased by about 37.3% year-on-year, polybutadiene rubber increased by about 26.6% year-on-year, butyl rubber increased by about 96.4% year-on-year, ethylene-propylene rubber increased by about 107.3% year-on-year, thermoplastic styrene-butadiene rubber increased by about 38.3% year-on-year, polyisoprene rubber increased by about 279.1% year-on-year, neoprene rubber increased by about 35.5% year-on-year. The products mainly exported to Taiwan and Hong Kong of China, Vietnam, India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, the United States and other countries or regions. The trade methods were mainly general trade and goods trade in special customs supervision areas.