U.S. prices for styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), a key material employed in tire production and other insulation rubber-based products, held firm in May in the face of a volatile market environment and weak demand in major end-use markets. Market participants had been preparing themselves for potential volatility in prices as auto and industrial markets indicated weakening, but SBR prices were able to resist and held firm in late May xxxx.
This resilience in pricing occurs when overall economic volatility and trade dynamics shifts are obscuring expectations for rubber demand. The biggest external pressure is the xxx U.S. tariff on Chinese automotive components, imposed on April x, which is still causing dislocation in procurement plans throughout the supply chain. Automakers and tire manufacturers are moving slowly, with many purchasers restricting purchases and postponing significant-volume commitments.
As production volumes and SBR feedstock availability...
