Rubber is divided into natural rubber and synthetic rubber and is an important material. Rubber products such as tires, rubber sheet hoses, and recycled rubber are widely used in industrial, agricultural, defense, transportation, transportation, machinery manufacturing, medical and health fields, and daily life.

Rubber classification

Synthetic rubber, also known as synthetic elastomer, is one of the three major synthetic materials, and its output is only lower than synthetic resin (or plastic) and synthetic fiber. Synthetic rubber can be divided into two types according to the use of general purpose and special type. Generally, the seven synthetic rubbers are classified into general synthetic rubbers, namely styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR), neoprene (CR), butyl rubber (IIR), Nitrile rubber (NBR) and isoprene rubber (IR). General synthetic rubber is currently the most demanding synthetic rubber, accounting for more than 80% of synthetic rubber production. Its upstream raw materials are mainly olefins such as butadiene, propylene, ethylene and styrene. In general, synthetic rubber is only superior in some respects, and natural rubber has the most comprehensive performance.

Characteristics and uses of general synthetic rubber and natural rubber

Synthetic rubber is produced by artificial synthesis, and different kinds of rubber can be synthesized by using different raw materials (monomers). Synthetic rubber is formulated in five major systems: main material, reinforcing filling system (including reinforcing agent and filler), softening plasticizing system (softener and plasticizer), vulcanization system (vulcanizing agent, accelerator). , active agent, anti-focus agent protection system).

Synthetic rubber industry chain

During the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” period, China’s synthetic rubber production capacity increased significantly, from 2.825 million tons/year in 2010 to 5.956 million tons/year at the end of 2015, an increase of 3.13 million tons/year, an average annual increase of 16.1%; In the first two years of the five-year period, the growth rate of production capacity slowed down significantly. By the end of 2017, China’s production capacity was 6.083 million tons/year. In terms of production, China has become the largest producer of synthetic rubber. In 2017, China’s synthetic rubber production was 5.778 million tons. In 2018, China’s synthetic rubber production was 5.59 million tons.

Previously, synthetic rubber products have always been a tight supply and demand material, and the economic benefits are good. The relevant departments of the state encourage domestic enterprises to vigorously develop the synthetic rubber industry through various channels, making state-owned and private enterprises keen to invest in the synthetic rubber industry in recent years. Capacity has increased spurt.

In recent years, blind construction or expansion has not only led to overcapacity, but also caused imbalance in raw material supply, and the homogenization of industrial products has been severe, resulting in increased disordered competition among enterprises, while high-performance products still rely on imports.

In 2018, the total import volume of synthetic rubber in China was 4,411,800 tons, the import volume increased by 1.10%, and the import volume of synthetic rubber in China maintained four consecutive increases. In 2018, the import value of synthetic rubber in China was 7.621 billion US dollars, and the import value decreased by 10.09%; 2018 In the year, the total export volume of synthetic rubber in China was 303,400 tons, and the export volume increased by 16.04%. In 2018, the export value of synthetic rubber in China was 716 million US dollars, and the export value increased by 18.15%. On the whole, the structural contradiction between the oversupply of China’s synthetic rubber industry and the large number of imports is more prominent.

Comprehensive data from China Customs and the National Bureau of Statistics: In 2017, the total demand for synthetic rubber in China was 9,988,400 tons. In 2018, the apparent consumption of synthetic rubber in China was 9,968,400 tons.

In 2018, China’s domestic rubber products industry sales revenue was 970.90 billion yuan, the total import value was 34.56 billion yuan, the export value was 141.39 billion yuan, and the scale of China’s rubber products market was 864.07 billion yuan. In recent years, China’s rubber products import share has remained at the same level. 4% or so.

Affected by the development of the downstream rubber products industry, the dependence of foreign rubber products in China has rebounded rapidly in recent years, and the proportion of imports in demand has climbed from 22.4% in 2014 to 45.5% in 2018.

Since 2018, several sets of large-scale naphtha cracking ethylene plants have been put into operation in China, and the butadiene capacity of supporting construction will also be concentrated. For example, Zhonghai Shell Phase II 180,000 tons/year, Zhongke Petrochemical and Gulei Project each 130,000 tons/year, Sinochem Quanzhou and Zhejiang Oil each 160,000 tons/year, Shenghong Refinery 150,000 tons/year, Yantaiwan China 160,000 tons / year and so on.

It is foreseeable that China’s butadiene resources will increase in the next few years, but itis clear that the supporting synthetic rubber production capacity is limited, the synthetic rubber raw materials increase, and the possibility of cost reduction is large, which is conducive to the healthy development of the synthetic rubber industry.

First, rational planning of new equipment construction

As a large number of new installations have been completed and put into operation in recent years in China, the production capacity of some varieties has become excessive. Therefore, the proposed and under construction production equipment needs to be re-conducted according to the market law and the recent market capacity, and the new equipment construction will be carried out in a reasonable and orderly manner. .

Second, promote the advancement of traditional technology

Most of China’s synthetic rubber industrial devices use traditional technology. Compared with the international advanced level, there are obvious gaps in energy conservation and environmental protection. Industry enterprises should research technical improvement measures for gaps and research technical solutions for problems.

Third, actively promote product structure adjustment

The synthetic rubber industry needs to develop new synthetic rubber products with new structure and performance relying on basic research results such as controlled radical polymerization and controlled cation polymerization.

Fourth, strengthen application development

China’s eight major synthetic rubber basic rubber varieties have achieved localization, but such as bromobutyl rubber, rare earth butadiene rubber and polyisoprene rubber, although the device has been put into production, but the downstream development is not enough, resulting in low operating rate of the device Industry companies need to actively engage in application promotion research with downstream users, otherwise it will affect the healthy development of these products.