In 2022, some 14.3 million metric tons of natural rubber and 15.4 million metric tons of synthetic rubber were consumed worldwide.
Rubber formats
Rubber has been commonly used by humankind for over 1,000 years. Rubber appears in two different forms: natural and synthetic. Both forms of rubber have a high tear resistance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, fluid resistance, and electrical resistance, which makes it a very useful material for a variety of applications. Both types of rubber have areas where they perform better than the other type, however natural rubber’s beneficial properties outweigh the performance of synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber, which refers to any artificial elastomer, has the advantage that it is easier to produce than natural rubber.
The origins of natural and synthetic rubber
As the Amazonian rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) geographically originated in Central America, it follows that the indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica were the first people to use rubber. Some 3,500 years ago people in Mexico and Central America were already harvesting and using natural rubber in liquid forms for medicinal applications and for painting. Today however, most of the world’s natural rubber is produced in the Asia Pacific region. Butadiene, the first form of synthetic rubber to exist, was developed in 1910 and became prominent during the first World War due to shortages of natural rubber.
Rubber consumption today
Today, China is by far the largest consumer of natural rubber, at 5.7 million metric tons in 2022. India came in a distant second place that year.
Rubber is used to make latex products, footwear, engineering, belting and hoses, and more. The majority of natural and synthetic rubber is consumed by the global automotive industry to produce tires and tubes for vehicles.
Consumption of natural and synthetic rubber worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023
(in million metric tons)
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Malaysian Rubber Board. (March 7, 2024). Consumption of natural and synthetic rubber worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023 (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 23, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/275399/world-consumption-of-natural-and-synthetic-caoutchouc/
Malaysian Rubber Board. "Consumption of natural and synthetic rubber worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023 (in million metric tons)." Chart. March 7, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 23, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/275399/world-consumption-of-natural-and-synthetic-caoutchouc/
Malaysian Rubber Board. (2024). Consumption of natural and synthetic rubber worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023 (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 23, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/275399/world-consumption-of-natural-and-synthetic-caoutchouc/
Malaysian Rubber Board. "Consumption of Natural and Synthetic Rubber Worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023 (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Mar 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/275399/world-consumption-of-natural-and-synthetic-caoutchouc/
Malaysian Rubber Board, Consumption of natural and synthetic rubber worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023 (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/275399/world-consumption-of-natural-and-synthetic-caoutchouc/ (last visited November 23, 2024)
Consumption of natural and synthetic rubber worldwide from 1990 to H1 2023 (in million metric tons) [Graph], Malaysian Rubber Board, March 7, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/275399/world-consumption-of-natural-and-synthetic-caoutchouc/