HOUSTON, TEXAS, May 26, 2003 - Global shipments and production of synthetic rubber continued to strengthen in the first quarter of 2003, according to the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers’ Worldwide Statistical Program.
Britt Theismann, IISRP Information and Systems Director, described the growth in the first quarter as “the most robust” since the fourth quarter of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000.
“Overall, shipments and production grew 3.9 percent over the fourth quarter of 2002,” Theismann said . “And when comparing the first quarter with the first quarter of 2002, the growth is even more significant at 8.0 percent.”
Although all regions grew in shipments and production, North America and Western Europe recorded the sharpest increase at 6.9 percent and 4.8 percent respectively. In China, where growth has averaged more than 13 percent recently, quarter-over-quarter growth slowed to 3.4 percent in the first quarter.
On an elastomer basis, Theismann said automotive elastomers increased the most with NBR up by 10.1 percent and EP(D)M up by 5.0 percent. Emulsion SBR, after many quarters of decline, rose by 5.4 percent. Solution SBR and BR continued their steady upward pace at 2.9 percent and 2.0 percent respectively. “Others”, which includes Butyl and specialty elastomers, rose by 6.5 percent.
Theismann added that global inventories, which had reached a high of more than 64 days of supply in the second quarter of 2001, continued to decrease, dropping to 54 days of supply in the first quarter this year.
The IISRP is an international not-for-profit trade association with 47 corporate members domiciled in 21 countries producing more than 90 percent of the world’s supply of synthetic rubber. Incorporated in 1960 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Institute supports regional offices in London and Tokyo.
