The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has released its 16th End-of-Life Tire Management Report, revealing positive momentum in tyre recycling with 79 percent of end-of-life tyres being consumed by end-use markets.

This reflects a 10.5 percent increase in overall utilisation, reinforcing that end-of-life tyres remain one of the most recycled and reclaimed consumer products, outpacing materials like metal, glass, aluminium, plastic, and paper.

While this progress is encouraging, USTMA emphasises that collaborative efforts across the tyre recycling value chain must continue to fully eliminate illegal and abandoned tyre stockpiles and create sustainable, circular markets for end-of-life tyres (ELT).

Anne Forristall Luke, President and CEO, USTMA, said, “This over 95 percent reduction in stockpiles is the result of decades of progress developing the tyre recycling industry, remediating stockpile sites, and driving innovation.”

“USTMA’s primary goal is to recycle 100 percent of end-of-life tyres into circular, sustainable markets. However, significant work remains, and to achieve full circularity, we must continue to collaborate with manufacturers, recyclers, policymakers, NGOs, and environmental groups to develop and expand the markets for tyre recycling and reclaiming.”

It is interesting to note that that ground rubber has become the second largest market for end-of-life tyres, increasing 29 percent since 2019 and consuming about 28 percent of end-of-life tyres in 2023. Ground rubber is used in a range of applications, including rubberised asphalt for roads, reflecting the growing demand for sustainable materials in infrastructure and everyday products.

Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA), a key use of ground rubber, is showing significant growth as a cost-effective, durable solution for U.S. infrastructure. Since 2021, RMA has consumed 165,000 tonnes of ELTs, representing a 17 percent increase.

USTMA states it continues to advocate for federal funding to further scale RMA as part of infrastructure development projects, ensuring long-term benefits, performance, environmental impacts, and to advance tyre circularity.

But in contrast, despite the significant achievements made, approximately 48 million end-of-life tyres still remain in stockpiles. USTMA is engaging all stakeholders in the value chain to drive sustainable practices and eliminate these stockpiles. The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative of USTMA and the Tire Industry Association, aims to provide critical support by educating, networking, and collaborating with key players in the recycling ecosystem.

“We’ve made considerable progress, but we’re not done yet,” added Luke. “The industry, policymakers, and recyclers must continue to push forward, advocate for market expansion, and invest in sustainable recycling technologies that can help drive a future where 100 percent of tyres are recycled and reclaimed into sustainable, circular end-use markets.”

Future focus areas

In light of the findings from the report, USTMA and its partners state that they will continue to focus on four key growth areas:

Driving Market Growth Through Research and Data

Building on the 2021 Rubber Modified Asphalt State of Knowledge Report, USTMA will release a Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) State of Knowledge Report later this year, offering data-driven insights to support market growth and innovation. 

Collaborative Engagement Across the Value Chain

USTMA will continue to strengthen partnerships and collaboration among all stakeholders—manufacturers, recyclers, government agencies, and environmental groups—through initiatives like the Tire Recycling Conference and a series of Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA) workshops, fostering knowledge sharing and advancing tyre recycling solutions across industries.

Leveraging Federal Infrastructure Funding for ELT Markets

USTMA aims to maximise opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to scale TDA and RMA markets, reinforcing the critical role of end-use tyres in sustainable U.S. infrastructure.

Supporting Strong State ELT Management Programs

USTMA continues to advocate for robust state programs that effectively manage end-of-life tyres and support sustainable recycling practices, driving innovation and addressing tire stockpile reduction.

Representational image courtesy: Eldan Recycling

Nouryon, a leading supplier of organic peroxides and a developer of organic peroxide solutions, has formally announced the completion of capacity expansion of its organic peroxides manufacturing facility in Ningbo, China.

The company's production capacity for Perkadox 14 and Trigonox 101 organic peroxide products, which are crucial components for altering polymer characteristics and crosslinking rubbers and thermoplastics, has increased to 6,000 tonnes each as a result of this capacity expansion. Furthermore, by improving the qualities of recycled polypropylene (R-PP), these solutions can also allow consumers to employ recycled polymers in applications that were previously exclusive to virgin plastics.

Alain Rynwalt, Senior Vice President – Performance Materials, Nouryon, said, “Nouryon is a world leader in essential ingredients for the polymer industry and this expansion highlights our dedication to supporting our customers’ growth across the entire polymer cycle. Customer interest in improving the properties of recycled polypropylene continues to rise, in line with increased consumer awareness and more stringent regulations.”

Sobers Sethi, Senior Vice President – Emerging Markets and China, Nouryon, said, “Asia Pacific is a key region for Nouryon and our most recent expansion in China strengthens our supply position even more in this growing region. Our customers rely on our existing network of manufacturing facilities and innovative technologies, and we are pleased to build more capacity to meet growing customer demand around the world.”

Trinseo, a speciality materials solutions provider, has signed agreements to supply its polycarbonate technology license as well as all proprietary polycarbonate production equipment in Stade, Germany to Deepak Chem Tech Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deepak Nitrite Limited, a diversified chemical intermediates company based in Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

The combined deals are worth USD 52.5 million. Subject to significant milestones, the business anticipates receiving around USD 9 million by the end of 2024 and an additional USD 21 million in the first part of 2025. The firm has made the decision to leave Stade, Germany, with this disposal of the production assets.

Frank Bozich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trinseo, said, “While Trinseo recently announced its decision to exit virgin polycarbonate production, our polycarbonate technology is highly valued and the manufacturing equipment in Stade, Germany, can be utilised in India by Deepak. These are the initial steps of a strategic, collaborative partnership with Deepak, as we explore additional opportunities to leverage our technology portfolio and expand in higher-growth areas such as India.”

China's butadiene exports have experienced significant growth in recent years, particularly in 2021 and 2024. According to Sublime China Information (SCI), this surge is primarily driven by supply constraints in key regions, including the US and Southeast Asia.

Export Volume and Price Trends

In 2021, China's butadiene exports reached a historic high due to a supply gap in the US market. According to SCI, this trend continued in 2024 as reduced deep-sea cargo shipments and production challenges in Southeast Asia further tightened global supplies. From January to September 2024, China's total butadiene exports surged by 111 percent year-over-year to approximately 120.8 kilo tonnes.

The average export price of butadiene has fluctuated over the past five years. In 2023, weak demand in South Korea and competition from deep-sea cargoes led to a significant decline in export prices. However, in 2024, supply shortages from key regions drove prices to a five-year high. As of September 2024, the average export price reached USD 1,391 per metric ton, a 35 percent month-over-month increase, added SCI.

Export Destinations and Regional Dynamics

The majority of China's butadiene exports are directed to South Korea and Taiwan. In 2024, South Korea accounted for 74 percent of total exports, a significant increase from the previous year. This surge was driven by factors such as limited domestic supply and increased demand for spot butadiene.

While China's butadiene exports have been strong, the long-term potential for significant growth in deep-sea exports remains limited due to established supply chains and regional demand dynamics. Most of China's exports are currently concentrated in Northeast Asia, with limited opportunities for expansion into other regions.

Future Outlook

SCI added that 2025 China's butadiene supply is expected to be relatively sufficient, and export volumes may increase further. However, the sustained growth of exports will depend on various factors, including downstream demand in key markets, the availability of deep-sea cargoes, and the development of new production capacities in other regions.

Despite these uncertainties, China's butadiene industry is well-positioned to capitalize on global supply-demand imbalances and continue to play a significant role in the global market.

Cabot Corporation, a global speciality chemicals and performance materials company, has announced through an official statement that it will raise prices globally for carbon black products sold by its speciality carbons business. The price rise will be global and will come into effect for all shipments on or after 1 December 2024, or as contracts allow.

The company claims that the price rise is necessary owing to the impact of inflation on labour, maintenance and other production activities, as well as supply chain-related expenditures. The price increase will vary depending on the product and region.

The statement further elaborates that these price adjustments will help the company remain a dependable, long-term provider of high-quality products and services to its consumers. Cabot also underlined its commitment to guaranteeing supply security and the best service standards for its clients, as well as providing technological and process improvements and moving forward with its environmental goals.