SR consumption up 5% in 1995, 1996 increase forecast to be 3.2%.

Worldwide consumption of synthetic rubber (SR) increased by 5% in 1995. Consumption in 1996 is forecast to increase by 3.2%, according to the five-year forecast issued by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP). Consumption in 1995 reached 9.54 million metric tons and is expected to approach the 11 million metric ton level by the year 2000.

"In 1995 almost all geographic regions experienced growth in SR consumption, with the highest growth rate in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)" said Britt D. Theismann, IISRP Information and Systems Director. "After a dismal 1994, the SR business in the CIS experienced an increase of 34% in 1995 to 505 thousand metric tons (kt) and is expected to continue recovery in 1996."

Other regions also experienced significant growth in 1995. SR consumption in the Middle East and Africa increased by 11% to 164 kt. In Central Europe SR consumption increased by 10.1% to 290 kt. SR consumption growth in China/asia CPEC continued at an accelerated growth rate increasing by around 7% to about 520 kt. "Although we report 7% SR consumption growth in China, the rate of growth may be as high as 10%. The IISRP is working on establishing more reliable statistics from the area." Asia and Oceania increased by 5.2% to 2,174 kt, Western Europe by 3.8% to 2,311 kt, and North America (U.S. and Canada) by 2.3% to 3,002 kt. SR consumption in Latin America (including Mexico) decreased by 2.3% to 576 kt due to weaker economies in Argentina and Mexico.

"1995 saw significant growth in many elastomer types," commented Theismann. Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) increased by 5.7% to 2,880 kt. "This noteworthy increase in SBR consumption is due to several factors; the improved economic situations in Central Europe and the CIS; a continuing growth trend in the use of solution SBR; and increased substitution of natural rubber (NR)," remarked Theismann. The use of polybutadiene rubber (BR), due in part to its increased use in tire tread to reduce rolling resistance in part to the growth in Central Europe and the CIS, increased by 5.4% to 1,582 kt in 1995. Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) increased by 2.5% to 288 kt, ethylene propylene rubber (EPR, both EPM and EPDM) increased by 2.4% to 684 kt. Polychloroprene rubber (CR) decreased by 2.7% to 262 kt.

All geographic regions are expected to show gains in SR consumption over the coming five-year period. In the CIS SR consumption is forecast to increase at an annual average rate of 7% for total growth of 40% from 505 kt to 708 kt in the [NO CONTINUATION ON ORIGINAL TEXT]

Synthetic rubber(1) consumption by region

Region                   1994    1995    1996    2000

North America           2,933   3,002   3,026   3,112
Western Europe          2,227   2,311   2,350   2,543
Asia and Oceania        2,067   2,174   2,242   2,561
Latin America             589     576     597     680
Middle East and Africa    148     164     170     190
Central Europe            263     290     308     368
Commonwealth of
Independent States        377     505     602     708
China/Asia CPEC(2)        485     519     555     727
Total                   9,089   9,541   9,849  10,889

(1) Excludes thermoplastic elastomers
(2) Centrally planned economy countries

Thousand metric tons