Specialty Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Application (Printing Rubber Rollers, Extrusion & Calendering, Injection Molding), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global specialty Nitrile Butadiene Rubber market size was valued at USD 556.4 million in 2017 and is projected to register a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast years. The rising importance of materials with high strength and abrasion resistance in the automotive, marine, and aviation sectors are projected to be a key factor driving the demand for specialty NBR products over the next few years. Growth in end-use industries driven by steady recovery from the economic slowdown is likely to drive the demand for specialty NBR over the forecast period. Strong demand for sports equipment coupled with rising use of butyl rubber in manufacturing sports equipment is likely to drive the demand over the forecast period.

Growing demand for bimodal NBR adhesive, sealants, & mastic application is likely to propel demand over the forecast period. Adhesive and sealants are used for joining rubber, glass, plastics, metal, and several other materials in the automobile industry. Also, rising utilization of the product for bonding, assembling, as well as laminating, interior parts in automobiles is expected to augment the market development. The rapid expansion of the construction, automotive, and packaging industries, mainly in China, India, and Brazil, is expected to drive the demand for both adhesives and sealants over the forecast period.

Thus, the global market for adhesives and sealants is expected to exhibit significant growth over the next few years, thereby fueling the product demand. Reliance on global crude oil price dynamics is expected to force manufacturers to charge accordingly. Rising production of alternative sources including shale oil and tight gas in U.S. and Canada on account of the deployment of new technologies, such as hydraulic fracturing and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), in North Dakota and Alberta are expected to ensure the access of petrochemical feedstock to the specialty NBR producers. These factors will also contribute to the market development over the years to come.

Stringent regulations and laws are projected to act as a limitation in the application growth of the industry in Europe. Also, as a result of the numerous regulatory policies and growing environmental concerns, market participants are focusing on the enhancement of bio-based products. However, the growth of the aerospace industry in developed economies on account of regulatory support to promote investments in commercial and defense aviation sectors is expected to spur phenolic resins to demand in cabin interiors and aircraft wings. This favorable trend towards the phenolic resins market is projected to increase the usage of liquid NBR as a filler material, thereby propelling the overall market development.

Product Insights

Concerning product segmentation, the specialty Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) market is categorized into carboxylated, bimodal, and liquid NBC. The carboxylated segment is anticipated to exhibit high growth on account of large-scale application of the product in heavy industries and rapid technological advancements in industrial application. Printing rubber rollers were the dominant product segment for the carboxylated NBR market in Canada. The presence of leading automobile manufacturing companies including Kia, Hyundai, GM, and Daewoo is anticipated to have a positive impact on the market.

Carboxylated NBR is expected to find applications in the manufacturing of protection films and acoustic dampening for the automotive industry. The strong demand for passenger vehicles on account of growing income levels and population in China is expected to play a crucial role in fueling the segment development. Cost advantages, as compared to Europe and North America, in saving over 10 - 25 % on the large-scale operation is likely to facilitate the product’s market demand. Rapidly growing food processing industry is also anticipated to impel the product demand over the years to come. Moreover, increasing demand for vehicles made in Germany will eventually upscale the requirement of specialty NBRs.

Application Insights

Printing rubber rollers were the fastest-growing application segment for carboxylated NBR and accounted for 20.8% of the revenue share. Printing rubber rollers are used in several applications including metal coating, metal polishing, leather finishing, textile industries, and paper coating. The carboxylated NBR is utilized in printing rubber rollers application on account of its excellent toughness and outstanding abrasion resistance. Product demand in the aforementioned applications will be further augmented by its ability to blend with various substances for durability, release, and temperature and to successfully replace polyurethane in the printing rubber roller application.

Moreover, the rising application of printing rubber rollers in abrasive products, glass industries, contact wheels, and conveying equipment is projected to drive the market over the coming years. Phenolic resins modifier was the fastest-growing application segment for liquid nitrile butadiene rubber and constituted over 16% revenue share of the market in 2017. Liquid NBR is used to modify the mechanical properties of phenolic resins. The effect of reactive compatibility of liquid NBR on composite and adhesive properties of these resins leads to improved miscibility and strong interfacial adhesion of the phases.

Demand for liquid product type in polymeric modification due to its ability to impart high chemical resistance against acids and bases by enhancing the water-resistance of the fatty hydrocarbon chain will augment the overall market. Not only the dynamic properties of phenolic resins are improved, the final products manufactured with such process including wood adhesive, foams, and coatings contribute towards flexibility at higher temperatures than that of unmodified resins.

Regional Insights

North America is expected to witness a considerable CAGR over the forecast period. The growing automotive industry in North America is anticipated to drive the specialty NBR market in the region. The U.S. will stay as a dominant economy in the regional automotive industry by serving its large domestic markets and facilitating exports worldwide. Besides, growing demand for domestic automobiles due to the increasing spending of foreign companies in establishing manufacturing facilities in the U.S. is likely to play a major role in determining the demand for specialty nitrile butadiene rubber.

Furthermore, the European automotive industry is likely to shift from powertrain vehicles to electric cars on account of environmental concerns and government regulations. The demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is expected to surge over the next few years, in turn, boosting the demand for rubber compounds at large. The transition of economic recovery to expansion is set to continue offering investment opportunities, thereby witnessing a change in sluggish growth. Such growth prospects are touted to remain positive for the region.

Specialty Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Market Share Insights

The market is oligopolistic with only three major players (While Zeon Corporation, JSR Corporation, and LANXESS AG) dominating the global industry. This is likely to block the entry of new players and lead to slow innovation. The market is dependent upon raw material suppliers and manufacturers, who are primarily concentrated in the U.S., Japan, and China.

The predominant consumption of raw materials including acrylonitrile, carboxylic acid, and butadiene for the production of other engineering plastics, such as styrene polymers, is expected to limit the availability of feedstock to the manufacturers. As a result, companies are charging buyers as per the supply scenario of precursors.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global specialty Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) market report based on product, application, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Thousand Tons; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2014 - 2025)

  • Carboxylated

  • Bimodal

  • Liquid

• Application Outlook (Volume, Thousand Tons; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2014 - 2025)

  • Carboxylated

    • Printing Rubber Rollers

    • Extrusion & Calendering

    • Injection Molding

    • Adhesive, Sealant & Mastic

  • Bimodal

    • Printing Rubber Rollers

    • Extrusion & Calendering

    • Polymeric Plasticizers

    • Phenolic Resins Modifier

    • Adhesive, Sealant & Mastic

  • Liquid

    • Polymeric Plasticizers

    • Phenolic Resins Modifier

    • Processing Aid

    • Adhesive, Sealant & Mastic

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Thousand Tons; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • Russia

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • China

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa