Asia NBR May Rise Further on Rising BD Costs, Strong Demand

Spot acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) prices in Asia look set to rise further on rising cost of feedstock butadiene (BD) costs and strong demand.

Spot offers for fresh January shipments rose to $2,200-2,300/tonne CFR (cost & freight) southeast (SE) Asia this week.

On 7 December, spot prices of NBR were assessed at $2,100-2,200/tonne CFR SE Asia, up by $50/tonne from the previous week, ICIS data showed.

“We have sold out all our December stocks and demand for January shipments is very strong and the feedstock BD costs are up,” a major NBR producer said.

Prices of feedstock BD had increased by about 15% from 10 November to $1,125/tonne CFR northeast (NE) Asia on 8 December, according to ICIS data.

NBR is used in a wide range of applications, including rollers for rice milling in the agricultural sector. It also has applications in the automotive industry for the manufacture of fuel and oil handling hose, seals, gaskets and grommets.

The elastomer also finds uses in roll covers, hydraulic hoses, conveyor belting, oil field packers and seals for all kinds of plumbing and appliance applications.