Zhuochuang Information: The Middle East situation currently has a limited impact on the import and export trade of the SBR/BR industry.

Recently, the Middle East conflict has escalated, and regional military clashes have attracted significant attention from global commodity markets. The Strait of Hormuz handles a major portion of worldwide crude oil shipping, and current navigation conditions are affected to some extent. Market risk aversion has quickly increased, causing a noticeable rise in the geopolitical premium of international crude oil prices. According to data from Zhuochuang Information, in terms of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), due to the supply shortage in the Middle East, China’s annual exports of SBR to the region are less than 1,000 tons. In 2024, exports to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and a Middle Eastern country are approximately 200+ tons, less than 500 tons, and less than 600 tons respectively, totaling over 1,000 tons. In 2025, exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE are about 500 tons and 400 tons respectively, totaling less than 1,000 tons. As for cis-butadiene rubber, China basically does not export to the Middle East. Therefore, based on the fundamentals of SBR and cis-butadiene rubber, the Middle East conflict has limited direct impact on China’s imports or exports of these rubbers. The potential impact is reflected through the relationship between synthetic rubber and crude oil, primarily via butadiene, which is a major raw material for synthetic rubber. Additionally, the disruption of demand for SBR and cis-butadiene rubber in the Middle Eastern market due to the blockade of all-steel and semi-steel tires exports could influence these rubbers. (Zhuochuang Information)