Specifications for the automotive tires industry have significantly changed in recent years. The safety of travel, fuel economy and environmental health are of great importance. The rubbers used in the tire industry contain or are made of the medium and high content of solution-polymerized SBR, meeting the requirements. The styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) solution provides tires with a rare combination of good wet road keeping and low rolling resistance. This is why Solution-polymerized styrene butadiene rubber (s-SBR) has slowly begun to replace classic emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (e-SBR) in the manufacture of tires.

China has become the world's largest producer with a 63.3% of total market share and also the consumer of SBR due to the growing demand in the tire, mechanical rubber goods (MRG), and construction and footwear industries. Over the past decade, SBR production capacity in China has risen more than fourfold. On average, e-SBR is produced by ten companies while s-SBR is produced by five companies. The capacity of the s-SBR is about 41.4% of the total capacity of the SBR.

The increasing demand from the automotive industry for high-performance tires has had a significant impact on the growth of the market. Tire manufacturers have to face stringent requirements and rigorous quality checks that have made it difficult to find a replacement for SBR. Automotive manufacturers are focusing on enhancing the vehicle performance to reduce fuel consumption brought about by ingenious changes to the tire structures, as well as to the tire tread, which comes in contact with the road. The use of SBR in producing tire treads has made it possible to achieve higher gripping capabilities, thereby improving the performance of the tires.  The consumption of SBR by the automotive industry is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

Emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (e-SBR) and Solution styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) are the key product segments of the global market. Each process makes it possible to produce SBR with different characteristics and properties. Solution styrene butadiene rubber (s-SBR) has a narrow molecular weight distribution, less branching in the chain, is lighter in color, and has a low content of non-rubber substance by comparison with Emulsion SBR rubber. Solution styrene butadiene rubber (s-SBR) has better abrasion resistance, better flexibility and the ability to recover after deformation, and a lower heat generation than e-SBR rubber; their tensile strength, elongation at break, and cost are comparable.

SBR is polymerized either in an emulsion process under the presence of free radical core or a solution process under anionic conditions. The emulsion styrene butadiene rubber market continues its dominance over solution styrene butadiene rubber, being the majorly produced SBR grade globally. e-SBR is cost-effective as it is manufactured on a continuous process, and it has better processing properties. Emulsion SBR is widely used as tire tread polymers as it offers superior workability among other synthetic materials as well as exhibits high gripping force on the road under wet conditions. The growing demand for emulsion SBR for non-tire uses such as drive couplings, haul-off pads, shoe soles and heels, adhesives and conveyor belts has assisted the growth of this segment in the global market.

The growth of the SBR market has driven the increase in demand for SBR in the tire industry, which accounts for over 75% of the world consumption. The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) analysts ' projections and the major producers of tires point to stable growth and strong demand for new cars and tires. China accounts for a large proportion of growth in demand, and India for a smaller proportion, and a time of great potential will usually stretch to 2020 for all tire manufacturers.

Asia Pacific exhibited the largest consumption demand for SBR, with China dominating the consumption share of styrene butadiene rubber. The large volume of automobiles present in the APAC region has presented the manufacturers of SBR with tremendous revenue-generating opportunities. The high grip tire consisting of treads made of SBR is the main factor that is propelling the SBR market. The supply of SBR in this region is estimated to improve with manufacturing plants ramping up their operating rates due to the availability of cheaper feedstock butadiene. Deep-sea supplies headed to Asia from Europe are also expected to increase the supply of SBR. The demand for SBR is expected to strengthen in India and Southeast Asia on restocking activities ahead of the festive season in the fourth quarter of 2018.