Chinese Imports Of SR, NR For March

China's imports of synthetic rubber fell in March, according to official data published by Reuters. Imports of natural rubber grew in the month.
For natural rubber, China's imports for the month reached 213 kt at an average value of $4859 / tonne. This volume was 10.09 percent ahead of the same month in the previous year. Total imports for the first three months reached 468 kt, a decline of 4.64 percent on the previous year.
Thailand provided over half the total imports for march at 119 kt. Malaysia came next, with 43 kt, followed by Indonesia with 37 kt.
In terms of synthetic rubber, total imports in March reached 154 kt, down by 15 percent on the same period in the previous year. The average value was $3400/tonne. For the first three months total imports reached 385 kt, a decline of 10.23 percent on the first quarter of the previous year.
The biggest import source was South Korea, followed by the USA and japan. If the average value of imports was around $3400/tonne, imports from Russia, Canada and Belgium all exceeded $4000 per tonne. Each of these three countries operates at least one butyl rubber factory.
Imports from Sweden and Luxembourg were valued at over $5000/tonne. Since neither country operates a SR plant, these may well be compounded materials.
Imports from Denmark were valued at $6012 / tonne. Again, Denmark does not operate any SR factories, but does have some compounders.
(European Rubber Journal, April 22, 2011)