Carbon black demand rising 4%/year

By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 6/20/2007 9:06:00 AM

World carbon black demand is forecast to rise by slightly more than 4% annually to eleven million metric tons in 2011 to meet the needs of the global rubber market.

A market study by Cleveland-based Freedonia Group notes that the vast majority of carbon black, a chemical, finds use as reinforcement in vulcanized rubber goods—more than two-thirds for tires alone. Carbon black demand from the tire sector is projected to increase 4.2%/year through 2011 to 7.1 million metric tons. The smaller non-tire rubber carbon black market will expand 4%/year through 2011.

Demand for carbon black in the developed parts of the world will continue to post below-average gains through 2011, according to the study, with the large U.S. and Japanese markets having particularly weak growth rates. As reported on Purchasing.com, Cabot Corp. plans to close its carbon black manufacturing facility in West Virginia, due to a slowdown in North American tire manufacturing operations--with production moving overseas to facilities in China, South America and Southeast Asia.