Polybutadiene Rubber Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 To 2030

The global polybutadiene rubber market is likely to observe a substantial growth over the projection period on account of the rise in the demand for PBR in the construction and automotive industries. It is a synthetic polymer that is derived from the polymerization of butadiene. PBR is a synthetic elastomer made from butadiene monomers that have undergone anionic or coordination polymerization. Moreover, it is frequently offered in both solid and liquid forms. When making tyres, tyre carcasses, sidewalls, conveyor belts, sports apparel, and automotive components, polybutadiene rubber is combined with natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber. 

PBR has several advantageous characteristics, including a low vinyl content, resilience, high elasticity, resistance to abrasion, and low temperature resistance. Moreover, it is employed as an additive to improve the resilience to impact and hardness of rubber-based products. Because of this, polybutadiene rubber has a wide range of uses in the production of industrial, chemical, and rubber. For instance, polybutadiene is used to make gaskets, hoses, and belts for automobiles because it resists freezing temperatures better than other elastomers. In the upcoming years, these factors are anticipated to fuel market expansion. For instance, Arlanxeo opened a 65ktpa polybutadiene rubber plant in Brazil in February 2023. According to Arlanxeo, the investment boosts the flexibility of production at the Triunfo site, which previously produced EPDM rubber and emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR). 

The largest consumer of PBR, which accounts for more than 70% of the entire demand and a sizeable amount of the world's consumption of rubber, is the automotive tyre sector. The rising demand for vehicles, which is fueling the growth of the tyre sector, is also anticipated to increase demand for PBR. While PBR is utilized in the production of building goods like roofing materials, sealants, and adhesives, the expanding construction sector is also anticipated to open up new potential for the market. The global demand for PBR will therefore be driven by expanding end-use industries including the automotive tyre and construction sectors. For instance, Buna CB 21 from Lanxess is a grade of very viscous, highly elastic neodymium-polybutadiene rubber. Buna CB 21 is a substance for reducing the rolling resistance of car tyres, which reduces fuel consumption. It has rebound resilience and very low heat buildup. Fuel usage is decreased, which reduces CO₂ emissions and has a positive environmental impact. 

Moreover, the extensive research & development, product launch, and merger & acquisitions by companies are driving up demand for PBR. For instance, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. created the first technology in the world capable of generating butadiene from biomass effectively in April 2021. Moreover, in February 2019, SIBUR started a project to increase the effectiveness of polybutadiene rubber production at its Voronezh factory. To improve the present facility's operating effectiveness and guarantee consistently high-quality manufactured goods, the project will require a significant overhaul. To meet the high demand for Nd-BR in the key markets of the CIS and Europe, the company will need to ramp up capacity by 13 ktpa, bringing total capacity to 48 ktpa. 

The market is segmented based on type, application, end-user, and region. The type segment is divided into high-cis polybutadiene rubber, medium-cis polybutadiene rubber, and low-cis polybutadiene rubber. The application segment is divided into automotive tyres, conveyor belt, footwear, cables & pipes, sports accessories, and others applications. 

Furthermore, the Asia Pacific region is the largest market for polybutadiene rubber, owed to the presence of a large industrial and automotive manufacturing base in countries such as India, China, and Japan. In addition, increasing demand for automobiles in the region will further drive the demand for PBR market. This can be attributed to the growing per capita income of individuals and changing lifestyles coupled with the increasing population. 

Major industry contributors operating in the industry SR Corporation, ARLANXEO, ZEON CORPORATION, UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD., JSR Corporation, LG Chem, SABIC, and LANXESS. These companies are focusing on expanding their production capacities and developing PBR to meet the growing demand from various end use industries.