2012.04.26

The Indian Rubber Association has launched a project aimed at improving rubber quality.

According to reports from Indian media on April 12, the Indian Rubber Association is currently collaborating with the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), and the Indian Rubber Dealers Federation (IRDF) to conduct training programs for small and medium-sized natural rubber growers to improve the quality of rubber sheets. The project initiated by the Indian Rubber Association will take place from May 8, 2012, to July 8, 2012, in traditional rubber-growing regions in India, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The project will be officially launched at a meeting on April 18, 2012, at 10 AM in the Mammen Mappilai Hall in Kottayam. The domestic tire industry in India has a significant reliance on natural rubber, and it is currently transitioning to radial tires. Rubber sheets graded RSS4 and above are primarily used in the production of radial tires. Radial tires are generally of higher quality compared to cross-ply tires and have a longer lifespan. The large-scale project initiated by the Indian Rubber Association aims to prepare local natural rubber growers to enhance the quality of their natural rubber cultivation, thereby stimulating market demand. Additionally, the project will also discuss topics such as soil moisture conservation during natural rubber cultivation, low-frequency harvesting methods, and root planting techniques.

2012.04.26

Global rubber demand continues to decline.

As the economic outlook in Europe becomes increasingly uncertain and China's economic growth slows down, global rubber demand continues to decline. China is the world's largest rubber consumer, and as its GDP has dropped from 11% last year to 8%, it has severely impacted the rubber industry. Rubber is primarily used in tire manufacturing, and in the past three months leading up to March 31, car sales in China fell by 1.3%, further increasing pressure on the industry. However, India's rising rubber demand may offset some of the industry's pressures. The supply-demand gap for natural rubber in India has expanded to 1 million tons. At the National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE) in India, rubber for delivery in May was traded at 18,969 rupees per kilogram on Tuesday. On April 24 at the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM), the commodity was traded at 293.4 yen per kilogram. Globally, rubber demand is continuously declining.

2012.04.26

The 3rd China International Rubber Tire and Auto Parts Exhibition will be held in Guangrao.

On the morning of April 25, a press conference was held in Guangrao County, Shandong, China, announcing that the 3rd China International Rubber Tire and Auto Parts Exhibition will take place from May 15 to 17. The theme of this year's exhibition is "Gathering Quality Products, Enhancing Levels, Strengthening Cooperation, and Promoting Development." Major activities will include product displays, cooperation negotiations, project signing, and the release of exhibition results. The main exhibits will include four categories: rubber tires, rubber machinery and equipment, tire raw and auxiliary materials, and auto parts. There will be 4 exhibition halls and a total of 5 exhibition areas, covering an exhibition area of 30,000 square meters, with over 450 companies registered to exhibit, featuring many well-known enterprises and a high level of exhibitors. Currently, the exhibition's recruitment work is progressing smoothly, with 2,571 companies and 7,221 people registered to attend, including 2,078 domestic companies with 6,235 people and 493 foreign companies with 986 people. It is expected that 35,000 professional visitors will attend. During the exhibition, a series of activities will also be held, including the China-Europe Rubber Tire Forum, the Tire-Wheel Industry Dealers Conference, the 2012 National Tire-Cartoon Design Competition, and the project signing ceremony and exhibition results release.

2012.04.26

The Four Major Benefits of Using Rubber Accelerators

In the production process of rubber products, whether it is to extend the service life of rubber products, reduce production costs, or improve production efficiency, it is essential to use rubber accelerators reasonably. The benefits of using rubber accelerators include: 1. Shortened vulcanization time, reduced vulcanization temperature, which can increase production efficiency and lower costs. 2. Due to the reduced amount of sulfur, lower vulcanization temperature, and some accelerators having antioxidant functions, the service life of rubber products can be extended. 3. Improved physical and mechanical properties of products, especially thick products, with a good leveling effect during the production of thick products, ensuring proper vulcanization inside the product without compromising the physical and mechanical properties of the product's surface. 4. Improved appearance quality of products, as the reduced amount of sulfur prevents blooming. In the process of making rubber products, using rubber accelerators can bring many benefits, but it is important to choose and use rubber accelerators wisely.

2012.04.26

The rubber production capacity and output in Xishuangbanna are jointly increasing.

After the smooth transition of the large contracts in the natural rubber futures market, the market's volatility has gradually converged, and natural rubber has not entered a trend-driven large-scale market. With the seasonal tapping period approaching, the supply of natural rubber is gradually becoming abundant. Will the market usher in a promising large-scale market? According to preliminary statistics, there are a total of 95 rubber processing enterprises in Xishuangbanna, mainly including Jingyang, Haijiao, and Sinochem. After the reform of agricultural reclamation, Yunnan Agricultural Reclamation Group established Jingyang Rubber Company in Xishuangbanna, with a rubber output of 58,000 tons last year, and it is expected to reach 100,000 tons this year. Haijiao has six agricultural reclamation rubber factories, with a rubber output of about 30,000 tons last year. This year, some old factories are expanding their production capacity; for example, the Shanghai Phoenix processing plant is expected to complete its new capacity by June, increasing its capacity to about 15,000 tons. Sinochem has six agricultural reclamation rubber factories, with a rubber output of about 60,000 tons last year, and it is expected to exceed 70,000 tons this year. There are 57 private rubber factories, among which Tianzheng, Manlie, Davi, and Yinghua are larger, while other small factories have an annual rubber output of about 2,000 to 3,000 tons. Currently, in the Xishuangbanna region, large enterprises such as group companies and traders are continuously deepening their integration into the rubber source, consolidating market resources, continuously updating equipment technology, and expanding production capacity. This has greatly standardized the market and provided further development space for rubber production. Based on calculations including freight costs, the overall liquidity of natural rubber is relatively poor, and the market's gross profit is thin, making it difficult to form a significant trading volume. Currently, processing plants in a favorable position, especially large groups like Sinochem and Haijiao, are fully utilizing their direct sales platforms.

2012.04.25

Research and Analysis on the Development of the Rubber Additives Industry in China in 2012

With the recovery of the global economy, the demand for rubber products has significantly increased, leading to a corresponding rise in the demand for rubber additives. The rubber additive industry in China is also thriving, gradually establishing itself as a major player in the global market for rubber additives. Currently, there are over 200 rubber additive production enterprises in China, with a production capacity of approximately 150,000 tons per year and an annual output of about 140,000 tons. There are around 60 enterprises with an annual production capacity exceeding 1,000 tons, and the total industrial output value of the entire industry is 2.2 billion yuan per year, with an export volume of about 10,000 tons per year. The main varieties include rubber antioxidants 4010, 4010NA, 4020, RD, DNP; rubber accelerators M, DM, CBS, NS, TMTD, NOBS, TETD, NA-22, and other processing aids. Among these, rubber antioxidants account for 50%, rubber accelerators for 40%, and others for 10%. The consumption structure is as follows: tires account for 65%, industrial products 18.5%, footwear 6%, latex 4.5%, and wires and cables 1%. With the global economic recovery and the expansion of domestic production capacity, the net export volume of rubber additives significantly increased in 2010, and the export unit price also saw a certain rise. According to relevant data, the total export volume of rubber antioxidants and rubber accelerators reached 39,047 tons, an increase of 80.2% year-on-year, with the export unit price also showing an increase. The average export unit price for rubber antioxidants was 2,166 yuan per ton, a year-on-year increase of 29.2%; for rubber accelerators, the average export unit price was 2,817 yuan per ton, up 12.1% year-on-year. In 2011, the production of rubber additives in China increased by 14.

2012.04.24

The spot rubber prices mostly fell, and the supply of Thai RSS3 is tight.

According to news from Singapore on April 24, the prices of spot rubber in Asia mostly fell on Tuesday, following the decline in TOCOM futures. The price of Thai RSS3 rubber remained on the rise due to tight supply; however, in reality, most Thai traders are unable to sell RSS3 rubber for immediate delivery because they cannot obtain enough raw materials for production, according to a major exporter. The Indonesian SIR20 rubber for June shipment was traded at about $3,580 per ton, on an FOB basis. The Thai RSS3 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 380-385 cents per kilogram, compared to 380-382 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day. The Thai STR20 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 370-371 cents per kilogram, down from 372-374 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day. The Indonesian SIR20 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 359-360 cents per kilogram, down from 360-362 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day. The Malaysian SMR20 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 369-370 cents per kilogram, down from 370-371 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day.

2012.04.24

The uncertainty of the European debt crisis puts pressure on Japanese rubber, leading to a decline in prices.

The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber index fell on Tuesday due to uncertainties surrounding the European debt crisis and increased supply putting pressure on the rubber market. However, stable oil prices and a positive outlook for demand continue to support rubber prices. The TOCOM October rubber settlement price dropped by 2.1 yen, reporting at 305.1 yen per kilogram. Thai officials indicated that Thailand may restart its stockpiling plan, aiming to push the spot price of natural rubber to 120 Thai baht per kilogram in the near term, and further increase the rubber price to 150 Thai baht per kilogram in the second half of the year. In the first quarter, the Shenyang region exported 333 batches of tires totaling 140,000 units, with a value of 26.13 million USD, equivalent to nearly 170 million RMB, marking a 105% increase compared to the same period last year. Tire products were exported to 41 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Poor economic data from Europe has once again raised market concerns, with Germany's April manufacturing PMI falling short of expectations, marking the fastest contraction in three years; Italy's April consumer confidence index hitting a new low since 1996; and Spain's economy contracting by 0.4% in the first quarter, entering a second recession. Shanghai's natural rubber futures weakened on the 24th, with the main contract 1209 closing at 26,810 yuan/ton, down 410 yuan/ton. Due to weak manufacturing data from Europe and China, and the political situation in France and the Netherlands raising concerns about potential further turmoil in the Eurozone, excluding weather-related speculation, global supply is expected to peak, while end factories are showing signs of slowdown in both domestic and export sales, making substantial improvement difficult in the short term.

2012.04.24

A brief introduction to commonly used rubber antioxidants.

The process by which rubber and its products gradually degrade and lose their original physical and mechanical properties during long-term storage and use due to the effects of heat, oxygen, ozone, variable metal ions, mechanical stress, light, high-energy radiation, as well as other chemical substances and mold, is called aging. As the aging process progresses and develops, the performance of rubber and its products will gradually decline until they completely lose their usability. To extend the service life of rubber products, it is necessary to incorporate substances that can inhibit the aging process into the rubber, thereby prolonging the storage period and service life of rubber and its products. These substances are known as rubber antioxidants. There are many types of rubber antioxidants, each with different functions. Based on their main functions, they can be divided into heat and oxygen aging inhibitors, ozone inhibitors, harmful metal ion inhibitors, fatigue inhibitors, ultraviolet absorbers, and crack inhibitors, among others. However, since each protective function is often not exclusive to a single rubber antioxidant, most rubber antioxidants can act on several aging factors, albeit to varying degrees. Below is an introduction to commonly used rubber antioxidants in the wire and cable industry. 1. Rubber Antioxidant D: This product is a light gray powder, with the pure product being a white powder, and is flammable. Its specific gravity is 1.18, and its melting point is not lower than 105°C. It is easily soluble in acetone, ethyl acetate, carbon disulfide, and chloroform; soluble in ethanol and carbon tetrachloride; and insoluble in water and gasoline. It gradually turns gray-black in air and sunlight, but this does not affect its protective effect. Rubber Antioxidant D is a general-purpose rubber antioxidant for natural and synthetic rubber. It has good resistance to heat, oxygen, bending cracking, and general aging factors.

2012.04.24

Five Important Considerations for Using Rubber Antioxidants

Due to the limitations of each type of rubber antioxidant and the fact that the aging of rubber products in practical use is influenced by various factors, the following points should be noted when selecting rubber antioxidants: (1) Each rubber antioxidant has different characteristics, and the aging performance of different rubber formulations varies. Therefore, the most effective antioxidant for one rubber product may be ineffective or even harmful to another rubber product. Thus, the selection of rubber antioxidants must be based on the aging performance of various rubber materials, the requirements for aging resistance, and the characteristics of various antioxidants, ensuring a comprehensive and rational choice. (2) When a single rubber antioxidant is insufficient to meet the requirements, two or more antioxidants should be used in combination to create a synergistic effect, ensuring effective aging resistance. (3) Some rubber antioxidants can cause discoloration and contamination of the rubber. Generally, phenolic rubber antioxidants have poor protective effects but cause little or no contamination. In contrast, amine-based rubber antioxidants, which have higher protective effects, tend to cause significant contamination and discoloration of the rubber. These contradictions should be carefully considered during selection. (4) The dosage of rubber antioxidants should not exceed their solubility in rubber to prevent blooming and contamination of the rubber surface quality. (5) Amine-based rubber antioxidants can have adverse effects on rubber scorch; phenolic rubber antioxidants can delay vulcanization, so this should be taken into account during selection.