In
the December
issue of the International Plastics News for Asia we have the Outlook 2013
Special Report where we gathered the insights of representatives from LANXESS
AG to provide their market forecasts on the rubber industry.
By
2020, global rubber consumption is expected to hit 35.9 million tonnes with synthetic
rubber accounting for more than half at 19.3 million tonnes, while the rest at
16.5 million tonnes would be for natural rubber. Of this, consumption by tyres
will account for 23.2 million tonnes and general rubber goods 12.6 million
tonnes, according to estimates by the International Rubber Study Group.
Given
this scenario, the rubber industry has focused increasingly in serving the
rising demand while meeting the sustainability challenge. LANXESS has taken
various initiatives to meet its goal of “Green Mobility” and these brought
forth a number of major projects with the more important ones in Asia – and all
are geared towards the production of environment-friendly rubber products.
The
momentum to invest on this new facility stems from the anticipated rise in
demand for specialty rubbers as a result of the fast-growing market for “green
tyres.” In response, the company invested in raising its capacity for rubber
materials, such as Nd-PBR, which is used in the treads and sidewalls of such
special tyres. It helps reduce the rolling resistance and increase the fuel
efficiency of a tyre. Nd-PBR is highly resistant to abrasion and plays a
significant role in making tyres safer and, above all, more durable.
“Green
tyres” production is currently the fastest-growing segment in the tyre industry
– growing by as much as 10% annually. Based
on LANXESS forecast, demand for fuel-efficient "green tyres" will
rise around the world – by 77% from 2010 to 2015. A recent study done by
LANXESS shows that the conversion to ‘green tyres’ on all vehicles in Singapore
would result in savings of about 358,000 tonnes of CO2 and about 150 million
litres of fuel annually.
The
tyre market is expected to present many innovations in 2013 and beyond given
the most recent decision in the EU to implement a tyre labelling scheme that
makes key tyre quality features transparent to consumers, and such scheme will
definitely affect tyre manufacturers and materials suppliers as well.
Using
a simple evaluation system based on similar labelling schemes used to evaluate
washing machines and refrigerators, it is now possible to compare individual tyre
models in terms of three central performance characteristics – fuel efficiency
(i.e. saving fuel), wet grip (i.e. safety) and noise emissions. The distinctive
label then grades all new tyres rolling off the production line in the three
categories on a scale of A (best) to G (worst) and will also indicate the
rolling noise volume. “Green tyres” get particularly good ratings on the EU
label, which consumers already know in a similar form from refrigerators and
washing machines. As a result of this system, tyre manufacturers are compelled
to produce high quality tyres to pass the high standards and remain
competitive.
