Valued at US$316.4 million in 2015,the rubber anti-tack agents market is forecasted to reach US$456.1 million by 2024, experiencing gains exceeding 4% CAGR over the forecast period, said a new report by US-based global market research and consulting service provider Global Market Insights, Inc.
Strong growth in end-user industries including automotive along with the increasing modifications in rubber processing will be a key industry driver.
Nitrile rubber (NBR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) are majorly used in tyre production due to their water, oil and abrasion resistant characteristics, in addition to superior grip along with lower rolling resistance.
In 2015, the global tyres industry was roughly around 3 billion units and is forecast to surpass 4.2 billion units, which will boost global rubber anti-tack agents market size.
These agents are primarily used to eliminate the cohesive property of rubber, which makes them preferred to find applications in industrial and medical sector.
For instance, NBR plays a crucial role in preventing virus transmission and are widely accepted in the healthcare industry. Growing awareness and concern towards health and hygiene will also stimulate rubber anti-tack agents market size.
Stearic acid is the chief raw material for stearate production, found in vegetable and animal oil and fats. Vegetable sources include shea, cocoa, soy and palm oil. Inclining oleochemicals prices may hamper rubber anti-tack agents market price trend.
Valued at over US$55 million in 2015, fatty acid esters including glycerol monostearate finds application in the rubber processing owing to their environment friendly traits.
In 2015, stearate based rubber anti-tack agents market size dominated the product base and accounted for over 40% of the global volume. However, strict environmental legislations associated with the product may hamper industry growth for stearate.
Various stearates including lead are strictly regulated with environment regulations synced with them. These are mainly used in compounding applications and PVC processing. Also, zinc stearate has been experiencing restricted usage owing to stringent legislations. This will hinder rubber anti-tack agents market over the forecast timeframe.
However, escalating SBR manufacturing along with its widespread applications in end-user industries, mainly in the Asia Pacific (China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia) will create new growth avenues for industry players.
Key industry contributors include Hallstar, Schill + Seilacher, Evonik, Baerlocher, and H.L. Blachford.