2017 Halobutyl Rubber Import Market Review

The import market of halobutyl rubber basically followed the import market of regular butyl rubber, but the former market fluctuated more obviously. The import price of halobutyl rubber kept increasing in January and February and started to drop after it reached the highest level. The import price of halobutyl rubber continued to rise in Q4, 2017.

China’s butyl rubber market followed the gains in Q4, 2016. It was mainly because players held bullish expectations for the market after the Spring Festival holiday. Traders and downstream users were active to stockpile feedstock. By late February, prices of BBK 232 closed at RMB 23,000/mt, and market prices of 2030 produced by LANXESS were around RMB 27,000/mt.

From early March to Early September, China’s butyl rubber market fluctuated downwards, amid sufficient resources and weak downstream demand. By early September, prices of BBK 232 closed at RMB 17,000/mt, and market prices of 2030 produced by LANXESS were around RMB 20,000/mt.

The butyl rubber market started to rise again in Q4, 2017, due to the influence of the anti-dumping investigation. LANXESS limited its supply as the plant in Singapore underwent maintenance. By late December, prices of BBK 232 closed at RMB 17,800-18,000/mt, and market prices of 2030 produced by LANXESS were around RMB 23,000/mt. Offers for 1066 were around RMB 23,500-24,000/mt.