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This report covers the two main types of styrene-butadiene latex: SB latex and SBR latex. The classification of these two products is based on the styrene content. SB latexes contain at least 45% styrene, and SBR latexes contain less than 45% styrene. In industry, SB latexes are the most widely used for paper coatings and carpet backcoatings and account for 88% of worldwide styrene-butadiene latex demand. The remaining consumption (12%) is SBR latexes, which are used mostly for foams and adhesives. Styrene-butadiene-vinylpyridine terpolymers, which are used almost exclusively for tire cord treatments, represent a minimal portion.
Since the end-use applications for SB latex and SBR latex are quite different, and the capacities for the two are not readily interchangeable, it is best to analyze the supply/demand situation for the two individually.
The market is consolidating and shifting consumption to Asia, especially China. Moreover, any new capacity additions will come from China. The rest of the world will not see new capacity additions. Styrene-butadiene latex producers will continuously be forced to accept raw material prices that are usually inconsistent with the dynamics of their end-use markets.
The following pie charts show world consumption of SB latex and SBR latex.
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In 2007, paper coatings represented about 70–75% of the total world SB latex consumed. The driving force for the consumption of SB latex in the world comes mainly from the development of the paper sector in Asia, especially in China. In 2007, foams and adhesives represented roughly 60–65% of the total world consumption of SBR latex. |
