China consumed 5.50 million metric tons of rubber in 2008, accounting for 24.8% of the world’s total consumption (22.18 million metric tons).
The 2008 consumption increased 6% from the 2007 level mainly due to the booming automotive industry. Driven by the automotive industry, China's output of tires, the main rubber finished products, increased 10% in 2008.
Rubber consumption in the Chinese market in 2008 by industries:
- Tire (sans cycle tire): 3.85 million metric tons.
- Cycle tire: 420 thousand metric tons.
- Pipe and Belt: 450 thousand metric tons.
- Footwear: 400 thousand metric tons.
- Emulsion: 200 thousand metric tons.
- Others: 180 thousand metric tons.
Total: 5.50 million metric tons.
China Synthetic Rubber Industry and Market
China consumed 2.97 million metric tons of rubber in 2008, accounting for 23.3% of the world’s total consumption (12.73 million metric tons). The Chinese synthetic rubber industry produced 1.9 million metric tons of synthetic rubber in 2008.
Synthetic rubber consumption in the Chinese market in 2008 by industries:
- Tire (sans cycle tire): 1.69 million metric tons.
- Cycle tire: 300 thousand metric tons.
- Pipe and Belt: 360 thousand metric tons.
- Footwear: 370 thousand metric tons.
- Emulsion: 140 thousand metric tons.
- Others: 110 thousand metric tons.
Total: 2.97 million metric tons.
Import:
China imported 1.202 million metric tons of synthetic rubber in 2008, decreasing 15% from the 2007 level. But the average price grew 38.2% to $2,780 a metric tons. As a result, the import in value increased 17.6% to $3.34 billion.
Export:
China exported 96 thousand metric tons of synthetic rubber in 2008, increasing 17.5% from the 2007 level. The average price increased 27.7% to $2,828 a metric tons, and the export in value increased 50% to $270 million.
China Nature Rubber Industry and Market
In 2008 China consumed 2.53 million metric tons of nature rubber, accounting for 26.8% of the world’s total consumption (9.45 million metric tons).
Nature rubber consumption in the Chinese market in 2008 by industries:
- Tire (sans cycle tire): 2.16 million metric tons.
- Cycle tire: 120 thousand metric tons.
- Pipe and Belt: 90 thousand metric tons.
- Footwear: 30 thousand metric tons.
- Emulsion: 60 thousand metric tons.
- Others: 70 thousand metric tons.
Total: 2.53 million metric tons.
China’s output of nature rubber reached 600 thousand metric tons in 2008. The import was around 1.9 million metric tons. But 0.4 metric tons of smuggling rubber from Vietnam impacted the market a lot due to the low price, which went down to 8,000 yuan ($1,170) per metric ton in late 2008.
Sources: China Rubber Industry Association, National Bureau of Statistics of China, and China National Petroleum Corporation.
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