DUESSELDORF, Germany (Sept. 16. 2010)—Production of polybutadiene, butyl and halobutyl rubbers will be tight in the future, according Lanxess A.G., a producer of the synthetic rubbers.
The company said for at least the next five years supply will be short for polybutadiene. Increased tire brands and growing tire production in the development regions will drive demand for the SR.
Joachim Grub, head of Lanxess' butadiene rubber business unit, said neodymium-catalyzed BR will be in demand especially. In response the company is de-bottlenecking its site in Dormagen, Germany, and expanding plants in Cabo, Brazil, and Orange, Texas.
Butyl and halobutyl supplies will be tight until the firm opens its new butyl rubber factory in Singapore, said Ron Commander, head of Lanxess' butyl rubber business. The facility is scheduled to open in 2013.