China's synthetic rubber imports are declining, but it should come as no surprise.
The trend is beginning just as the country is stepping up its research and development efforts within the synthetic rubber sector, and working to establish itself as a leader in technology and materials. These combined efforts have led to increased production and, ultimately, larger export volumes.
It's a shift that seems to indicate a turning point for the domestic rubber industry, according to the China Rubber Industry Association.
China's synthetic rubber imports fell by 10.4 percent to 1.2 million metric tons in 2018, while exports rose by 9 percent to 153,000 tons, marking the reversal of a trend that had been building for several years.