Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • LogIn
  • News
  • Technology Focus
    • Features
    • Technical Papers
    • Analysis: Rubber mixing plants of the future
      Analysis: US probes dumping by ESBR suppliers
      Opinion: Tire labels stuck in a rut
      Analysis: NR pricing takes one step forward, two steps back
    • White paper: Role of tire innerliners in improving 'in-use rolling resistance'
      White paper: Why tire air retention matters now more than ever
      Nippon Soda: Use of 1,2-polybutadiene in CSM rubber applications
      Elastomers for Sustainability Top 10
  • Events
    • ERJ Events
    • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Journey to Automation Awards 2020
      Sustainability: Top 10 E4S projects table
  • Maps & Reports
  • People
  • Directory
  • Digital Edition
  • Brainiac
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 06, 2021 08:10 AM

IRSG forecasts rubber demand to rebound by 7% in 2021

ERJ Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Singapore – The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) foresees a significant recovery in global natural rubber (NR) and synthetic rubber (SR) markets in 2021 – from the big declines seen last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

    In the December 2020 edition of its World Rubber Industry Outlook (WRIO), the Singapore-based industry body estimates that total global rubber demand will rebound by 7.1% in 2021.

    This compares to a year-on-year decline of 8.0% in overall rubber demand, to around 26.5 million tonnes, estimated for 2020. 

    World NR demand is expected to fall by 8.1% in 2020, reaching 12.53 million tonnes and projected to rebound by 7.0% in 2021 – helped by strong recovery in the commercial vehicle segment in mature and emerging markets. 

    World SR demand is expected to decline by 7.9% reaching 13.97 million tonnes in 2020 and is forecast to recover by 7.2% in 2021.

    For 2020, global rubber demand from the tire sector is expected to contract by 10.2%, compared to a fall of just 5.0% in the non-tire products sector. 

    The non-tire sector, noted IRSG, is being supported by a rapid surge in demand for gloves and other rubber products from the global healthcare industry.

    Nevertheless, the pandemic the continuing to exert substantial pressure on world economies.

    “Targeted containment measures on resurgence/mutation of virus is stalling the rebound and daily measures on mobility remain below the pre-Covid level,” noted IRSG. 

    According to the report, stronger rubber demand in China, driven by vehicle sales in OE and replacement markets helped to ‘soften’ the contraction in 2020. 

    World NR production is expected to decline by 5.9% in 2020, said IRSG. Tapping-days lost due to extreme weather, leaf fall disease and labour shortages during the pandemic disrupted production in major producing countries in south east Asia, it noted. 

    On the other hand, IRSG, said steady production growth from Mekong countries and Ivory Coast is likely to help offset some of the NR production losses seen elsewhere. 
     

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Versalis gains sustainability cert for product from bionaphtha and chemical recycling
    Versalis gains sustainability cert for product from bionaphtha and chemical recycling
    Michelin tires will be “100% sustainable” by 2050
    Michelin tires will be “100% sustainable” by 2050
    MouldTex advances mould-texturing for friction-optimised rubber parts
    MouldTex advances mould-texturing for friction-optimised rubber parts
    Free Newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Get the latest news impacting the European rubber industry, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Logo
    Contact Us

    @ 2019 European Rubber Journal. 
    European Rubber Journal is published bi-monthly by NUERJ Ltd.

    Registered Office: Castle House, 89 High Street,
    Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 2DF, United Kingdom. 

    Tel. + 44 (0)203 196 0141 

    Registered No. 13104613 England

    Email: [email protected]

    Website www.european-rubber-journal.com

    Customer service 

    Tel. + 44 (0)203 196 0141 

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
    • Technology Focus
      • Features
      • Technical Papers
    • Events
      • ERJ Events
      • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
      • Industry Events
    • Maps & Reports
    • People
    • Directory
    • Digital Edition
    • Brainiac