In early May xxxx, the Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR) market in both the US and South Korea faced downward pressure amid softer demand and reduced upstream costs. The automotive sector saw subdued performance, with lower vehicle and OE truck tire sales impacting offtake. Meanwhile, stable supply conditions and cautious restocking behavior persisted. Despite modest support from APAC tire markets, producers in both regions adopted competitive strategies to navigate a price-sensitive and uncertain trading environment for PBR.
In early May xxxx, PBR prices in the US declined to USD xxxx/MT FOB-Texas, reflecting a bearish pricing trend. The primary contributor for the PBR price decline was an x.xxx drop in Butadiene feedstock prices, which helped reduce upstream production costs for manufacturers.
On the demand front, the US market showed signs of weakness. Total vehicle sales in April fell x.xxx month-on-month, according to...
