Synthos to cut ESBR production by 30% amid gas supply woes

O?wi?cim, Poland – Polish chemicals supplier Synthos has announced that it is reducing its emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) production by 30%, effective immediately.

In a statement 8 Sept, the synthetic rubber manufacturer said it could no longer operate its ESBR production at full capacity due to “unsustainable and unpredictable utility costs”.

The costs, it said, have increased due to the current developments in connection with the supply of natural gas from Russia to Europe.

“Against this background, the company will reduce ESBR production by approximately 30%, equivalent to around 100 kilotonnes per annum, effective immediately,” it said.

Synthos said it will reduce ESBR production until further notice, while production of solution-SBR and butadiene rubber will continue as planned.

Synthos manufactures ESBR at all three of its production sites: in Oswiecim, Poland; Kralupy nad Vltavou, Czech Republic and Schkopau, Germany.