Reclaimed Rubber Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and Outlook (2024-2031)

Global Reclaimed Rubber Market is segmented By Product (EPDM, Whole tire reclaim (WTR), Butyl reclaim, Drab & Colored, Others), By Application (Automotive & Aircraft, Cycle tire, Retreading, Belts & Hoses, Footwear, Molded rubber goods, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

Reclaimed Rubber Market Overview

The Global "Reclaimed Rubber Market"  is expected to reach at a CAGR of 5.21% within the forecast period (2024-2031).

Reclaimed rubber is a material derived from scrap or leftover rubber used to replace or supplement new rubber in manufacturing rubber. The alkali process, in which ground scrap rubber is digested with sodium hydroxide solution and softeners under pressure for the three-fold purposes of degrading fabric, eliminating free sulfur, and plasticizing the rubber, produces the majority of reclaimed rubber.

The majority of the elements of waste rubber are present in reclaimed rubber and softeners, fillers, and other chemicals that may be added during the reclaiming process. Reclaimed rubber is inferior to fresh rubber in strength, stretch, and abrasion resistance. It can, however, be utilized successfully in a variety of rubber goods when softness and flexibility are necessary.

Reclaimed rubber can be processed more easily and at a lower cost in manufacturing processes than crude rubber. Reclaimed rubber finds application in automotive and aircraft tires, cycle tires, footwear, molded rubber goods, belts, hoses, retreading, etc.

Reclaimed Rubber Market Scope 

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Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)

Reclaimed Rubber Market Dynamics

Growing awareness among the consumer about environment-friendly materials with reduced processing costs and improved properties is driving the market share for reclaimed rubber. Improving adoption of reclaimed rubber in the automotive industry is boosting the market opportunities for the product

Growing awareness among the consumer about environment-friendly materials with reduced processing costs and improved properties

Rubber is the world's most used material. Different rubbers are available in the market at varying costs and manufacturing methods. Reclaim rubber is partially devulcanized rubber that has been transformed into a plastic state using a mixture of chemical, mechanical and thermal procedures. It is accompanied by a decrease in molecular weight, which aids the ability to digest. Reclaim rubbers offer various advantages such as lower mixing time and temperature, improved tack, the potential to replace resins and process aides, and significant cost advantages to the tire industry.

Furthermore, replacing reclaimed rubber can lead to savings of up to US$ 800-1200 per ton of virgin polymers substituted. Thus the mentioned advantages of reclaimed rubber are driving the market share for the product. In addition, the growing shift of consumers towards environment-friendly materials with reduced processing costs is also creating opportunities for various key players available in the market.

Developing reclaimed rubber markets is creating growth avenues for the key players. Similarly, as part of their corporate social responsibility, industry players are working to find better ways to reduce or eliminate the environmental harm caused by butyl rubber production. It is expected to help market development plans move forward faster.

Improving the adoption of reclaimed rubber in the automotive industry

The global reclaimed rubber market reflects the growing need for vehicle tires and tubing. Because of the growing need for OEM tires, the market is expected to expand over the next few years. With the growth of the automotive industry in developing economies, there has been a considerable increase in interest in crude materials, including reclaimed rubber. Because of their growing purchasing power, countries like Mexico, China, and India see a surge in travel and business car sales. Furthermore, the growth in the tire-recycling industry in these countries has also boosted the advertising industry.

Reclaim rubber from a scrap of tread peelings, whole tires, and natural rubber tubes for non-tire and tire applications in automobile industries. The growing interest of major car companies, such as Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, in investigating provincial regions is reviving item interest. Expanding global investment in India fuels market growth due to the availability of skilled labor, cost-effectiveness, and low-cost steel production. Thus growing automotive industry is more likely to create immense opportunities for reclaimed rubbers in recent times.

Growing fluctuations in the pricing of reclaimed rubber are hurdling the market growth for the product

The growth of the reclaimed rubber market is being hampered by fluctuating raw material costs. Factors such as fluctuating crude material costs, unexpected natural compound (VOC) contamination guidelines due to flexible handling, and the availability of options are major factors expected to impede the company's future growth.

The reclaimed rubber industry is threatened by the value instability of raw materials and government policies affecting butyl elasticity. The value instability of crude materials and government approaches affecting butyl elasticity compromise the reclaimed rubber industry. Because of its ability to absorb air and creep, reclaimed rubber is difficult to treat during handling.

Furthermore, another test for the business is its sensitivity to toxins in producing residual rubber parts, a prominent medical hazard. Aliphatic carbohydrates and sweet-smelling hydrocarbons do not affect it. It has helpless resilience to aliphatic sugars and sweet-smelling hydrocarbons. Thus sensitivity to toxins is another factor challenging the market growth for reclaimed rubbers in recent times.

COVID-19 Impact on Reclaimed Rubber Market Growth

COVID-19 has had a significant economic influence on several financial and industrial sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to alter progress in many areas; the flare-up's prompt impact has fluctuated. A few sectors have seen declining popularity, while others remain stable and offer stimulating development opportunities.

From the COVID-19 perspective, global car deals for 2020 are becoming more unclear. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the reclaimed rubber industry, causing a substantial portion of the assembly line to be shut down for a short period. In reality, the reclaimed rubber market and production network have been affected, restricting development.

However, the conditions are getting better in most countries holding a bigger market share for the automotive industry. Thus, leading to creating opportunities for the reclaimed rubbers to grow in the post-pandemic.

Reclaimed Rubber Market Segment Analysis

The global reclaimed rubber market is segmented based on product, application, and region.

Due to excellent ozone resistance, reduced electricity usage, and improved speed extrusion, the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) market is increasing rapidly.

The global reclaimed rubber market based on product is segmented into the whole tire reclaim (WTR), butyl reclaims, EPDM, drab & colored, and others. Out of the mentioned types, EPDM holds a dominating position in the reclaimed rubber market. The thread portion of scrap tires is filled with carbon black to create a high-grade, high-performance product.

Due to excellent ozone resistance, reduced electricity usage, and improved speed extrusion, the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) market is increasing rapidly. EPDM is progressively replacing virgin rubber in automotive and aircraft tires, consumer molded items, electrical cables, hoses, and conveyor belts.

Furthermore, the high compatibility of EPDM with polar chemicals, such as fireproof hydraulic fluids, ketones, hot and cold water, and alkalis, is another factor adding value to the growing market of the product. In addition, EPDM acts as an insulator between two conductors of electricity, giving it a huge application range compared to other types of segments available in the market.

Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)

Reclaimed Rubber Market Geographical Share

The expanding automotive and aerospace industries in various countries of Asia-pacific are more likely to create huge opportunities for the reclaimed rubber market

The Asia Pacific is projected to show rapid growth in the forecast period for the reclaimed rubber market. The expanding automotive and aerospace industries, particularly in China, Thailand, and India, are projected to influence demand in the coming years. The growing involvement of major vehicle companies, like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, in investigating provincial regions renews the product's interest in the area.

We are expanding global investment in India fuels market growth due to the availability of skilled labor, cost-effectiveness, and low-cost steel production. The avionics industry is seeing increased product requests due to India's booming travel industry and the buyers' high per capita income.

Furthermore, the Indian government's plan to increase airports to 250 by 2030 will pique interest in the reclaimed rubber market. Furthermore, non-tire applications, such as medical molded consumer goods, battery boxes and mats, and flooring, have seen high demand due to the region's growing industrial manufacturing activities. Compared to other regions globally, developed countries are likely to have slower growth. However, in North America and Europe, the region's rebounding rubber market, combined with a recovery in the automobile industry, is expected to drive reclaimed tire use.

Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)

Reclaimed Rubber Market Companies and Competitive Landscape

The reclaimed rubber market is highly competitive with the presence of local and global companies. Some prime companies that contribute to the market's growth are ExxonMobil, SABIC, BASF SE, 3M, Mapei SpA, Ashland, Inc, Henkel, Sumitomo Chemicals, Covestro AG, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp, and others.

The major companies are adopting several growth strategies such as acquisitions, product launches, and collaborations, contributing to the growth of the reclaimed rubber market globally.

• For instance, in November 2020, Cenway completed a butyl rubber upgrade project in Panjin, Liaoning province, and started production on August 18th, 2020. According to local government officials, the synthetic rubber manufacturer established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Panjin called Panjin Cenway New Materials in December.

ExxonMobil

Overview: ExxonMobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas business, relies on technology and innovation to fulfill the world's expanding energy demands. ExxonMobil has an industry-leading resource inventory, is one of the world's significant refiners and marketers of petroleum products, and has one of the world's largest chemical companies.

Product Portfolio: The Company has a product portfolio of reclaimed rubber that includes:

• Butyl rubber: Butyl rubber is a highly saturated backbone copolymer comprising isobutylene and a minor proportion of isoprene. Butyl rubber's main characteristics include superior air-barrier performance, flex fatigue resistance, and vibration damping. Butyl characteristics are valued in various rubber products, from inner tubes to curing bladders.

Key Development

• For instance, in June 2018, ExxonMobil started producing hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin and halobutyl rubber at its integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore. The complex will be the company's largest integrated refining and petrochemical complex globally.

Why Purchase the Report?

• Visualize the reclaimed rubber market segmentation by product, and application, highlighting key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the reclaimed rubber market by analyzing trends and co-development deals.
• Excel data sheet with thousands of data points of reclaimed rubber market-level 4/5 segmentation.
• PDF report with the most relevant analysis cogently put together after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
• Product mapping in excel for the key product of all major market players

The global reclaimed rubber market report would provide approximately 53 market data tables, 43 figures, and 180 pages.

Target Audience 2024

• Service Providers/ Buyers
• Footwear Companies
• Automotive Manufacturers
• Emerging Companies
• Manufacturers
• Logistics companies
• Distributors