Track Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Price Trend Historical and Forecast

Executive Summary

The global Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) market experienced significant volatility between late 2024 and Q3 2025, shaped by a confluence of oversupply, fluctuating feedstock dynamics, shifting automotive production cycles, regional import pressures, and logistical realignments. While demand from automotive, industrial, and elastomer manufacturing sectors remained structurally sound, cyclical weaknesses-particularly in early to mid-2025-resulted in declining price indices across major regions, except for modest resilience in select European markets.

North America experienced pronounced price declines due to oversupply, heavy Asian imports, and sluggish automotive production. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) market faced demand headwinds, competitive export pressure, and feedstock imbalances despite occasional supply tightening from maintenance shutdowns. Europe exhibited mild firmness at times due to export demand and logistical constraints, yet broader market weakness persisted.

Across all regions, inventories swelled notably in early and mid-2025, impacting the NBR Price Index while procurement behavior shifted toward conservative purchasing. Feedstock butadiene largely trended flat to weak, while acrylonitrile exhibited intermittent firmness, though not enough to reverse price declines.

Looking ahead, the NBR Price Forecast indicates continued cautious pricing through Q4 2025 unless automotive demand recovers materially or inventory corrections intensify. The global market remains sensitive to freight rate changes, import competitiveness, and supply chain stability.

◼ Get Instant Access to Live Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Prices Today: https://www.chemanalyst.com/ChemAnalyst/PricingForm?Product=Nitrile%20Butadiene%20Rubber%20%28NBR%29

Introduction

Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) is a critical synthetic elastomer widely used in automotive components, industrial rubber goods, seals, hoses, gloves, and multiple engineered applications requiring oil resistance and durability. Given its extensive industrial penetration, NBR pricing directly affects procurement strategies across automotive OEMs, industrial manufacturers, and medical end-users.

In 2024-2025, the NBR market experienced a series of structural and cyclical disruptions-from fluctuating feedstock values to slowing vehicle production and inventory overhang-that reshaped global price movements. As downstream industries moderated consumption and supply conditions oscillated between tightness and surplus, NBR markets across North America, APAC, and Europe responded with varying degrees of volatility.

Global Price Overview

Market Direction Across Regions

The global NBR market through Q4 2024 to Q3 2025 exhibited:

Downward trends in North America and APAC driven by oversupply, weak automotive demand, and import-driven price competition.
Moderate stability to slight gains in Europe in select quarters, supported by export flows and localized logistical constraints.
Volatile feedstock dynamics with butadiene largely soft, limiting cost-push support for NBR producers.
Cyclical fluctuations in acrylonitrile (ACN) contributing to sporadic production cost pressure.
Logistical easing in 2025, particularly falling freight rates, which encouraged competitively priced imports.

Industry-Wide Influences

The most significant global drivers included:

Automotive sector fluctuations-a primary consume of NBR-creating uneven demand.
Inventory accumulation across distributors and ports, particularly in the U.S. and Europe.
Aggressive exports from Japan, South Korea, and broader Asia, intensifying global price competition.
Seasonal slowdowns, especially in Q4 2024 and Q2 2025.
Substitution pressures from EPDM and silicone elastomers, particularly in North America.
The combined impact of supply excess, cautious procurement, and limited cost-push influences formed the backbone of global NBR price direction in the assessed period.

◼ Monitor Real-Time Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Price Swings and Stay Ahead of Competitors: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/nitrile-butadiene-rubber-71

Regional Analysis

North America NBR Market Analysis
Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

North America experienced a 15.31% QoQ decline in the NBR Price Index, with quarterly average pricing near USD 2432.67/MT.

Key market influencers:

Oversupply from heavy Asian imports, overwhelming domestic demand.
Stable feedstock costs, especially butadiene and acrylonitrile, offering no upward cost push.
Weak automotive and industrial rubber demand, further pressured by inventory accumulation.
Easing freight rates that lowered landed costs for importers, intensifying competition.
Large inventories at distributor and importer levels, enforcing consistent downward pressure.

Why Prices Declined in September 2025

Abundant imports and high stock levels softened market fundamentals.
Flattened feedstock trends eliminated any potential cost-led recovery.
Strong port operations and lower freight costs supported strong supply arrivals despite weak demand.

Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

Prices fell throughout Q2 2025, finishing at USD 1610/tonne CFR Los Angeles, down from USD 1700/tonne in early April.

Major drivers:

Weak automotive sector activity and poor replacement tire sales.
Rising inventories fueled by aggressive imports from Asia and Mexico.
Freight rates on USWC-Asia lanes dropped to USD 2,187/FEU, enabling lower-priced imports.
Production cost trends remained stable to slightly weak, with firming acrylonitrile offset by flat butadiene.

Why Prices Declined in July 2025

Persistent OEM weakness and high stocks.
Stable upstream costs failed to support upward momentum.
Margin pressure persisted for domestic producers.

Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

The NBR Price Index fluctuated narrowly, up 0.04%, reflecting mild volatility.

January stability from steady plant operations.
February increase due to supply tightness and feedstock cost rises.
March decline driven by oversupply and weak demand.
April 2025 decline:
NBR Price Index decreased 4.9%, driven by ongoing oversupply, cautious procurement, and weak spot trading.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

A volatile quarter defined by:

Strong automotive demand in early Q4 driving price increases despite lower crude and butadiene costs.
Rising ACN prices adding to upward cost pressure.
Seasonal slowdown in November and December leading to oversupply and price declines.
Plant shutdowns were scheduled to manage mounting stock levels.
Quarter-end price: USD 3230/MT CFR Los Angeles.

APAC NBR Market Analysis
Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

Japan's NBR Price Index fell 6.071% QoQ, with average pricing near USD 1990.67/MT FOB Osaka.

Primary factors:

Weak downstream automotive and industrial demand.
Inventory accumulation pressuring seller margins.
Spot market tightening due to maintenance-driven supply cuts.
Balanced production cost structure with butadiene and acrylonitrile moving in opposing directions.

◼ Track Daily Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Price Updates and Strengthen Your Procurement Decisions: https://www.chemanalyst.com/ChemAnalyst/PricingForm?Product=Nitrile%20Butadiene%20Rubber%20%28NBR%29

Why Prices Moved in September 2025

Maintenance reduced operating rates, tightening supply.
Competitive Asian market offers limited upward price movement.
Continued destocking behavior suppressed spot interest.
Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

APAC saw one of the sharpest declines globally.

Price Index fell 11.6%, from USD 2,580/tonne to USD 2,280/tonne (CFR Sorong).
Oversupply from Japan and South Korea.
Weak vehicle sales in Southeast Asia dramatically reduced consumption.
Indonesian deflationary market dynamics and falling consumer confidence.

Why Prices Declined in July 2025

Continued high inventories.
Dampened automotive demand.
Lower freight rates exacerbated oversupply as imports remained competitive.
Spot price pressure increased due to discounted Korean cargoes.

Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

The region experienced high volatility.

January weakness from low demand and high butadiene costs.
February improvement driven by partial automotive recovery and logistical delays.
March reversal from oversupply and poor buyer sentiment.
April 2025 decline:
Prices decreased 6.6%, settling at USD 2165/MT Ex-Shanghai, due to stockpiles outpacing demand and currency appreciation hurting exports.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

October price rise supported by strong automotive demand and rising ACN.
November decline due to seasonal slowdown and weak consumer confidence.
December stabilization from normal operations but limited demand.
Quarter-end pricing for 33%-38% grade: USD 2120/MT FOB Busan.

Europe NBR Market Analysis
Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

France saw a 0.96% QoQ increase in the NBR Price Index, with average levels around USD 2464/MT FOB Marseille.

Market drivers:

Firming export demand to Germany and the USA.
Tightened medium-grade spot availability.
Stable feedstock costs containing production expenses.
Elevated inventories limiting seller leverage.
Logistical disruptions and strike risks creating localized tightness.
Why Prices Increased in September 2025

Strengthening export flows reduced available domestic volumes.
Butadiene eased slightly, aiding cost management.
Port and labor disruptions temporarily restricted loadings.

Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

NBR Price Index fell from USD 1,810/tonne to USD 1,740/tonne (FOB Marseille), down 3.9%.

Declining automotive production across France, Germany, UK.
Lower exports due to U.S. tariff measures.
High inventory levels and weak spot market activity.
Cheaper Asian imports due to lower freight rates.
Butadiene decline supported a favorable cost environment.

Why Prices Declined in July 2025

OEM tire manufacturers cut production.
Downstream sectors limited procurement due to soft orders.
Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

European NBR prices fluctuated due to:

January weakness tied to high feedstock costs and poor automotive output.
February improvement from steady operations and modest vehicle production recovery.
March bearishness from oversupply and declining trade volumes.
April 2025:
Prices fell 3.9% amid excess stocks and competitive supplier discounting.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

October price rise from strong automotive demand and rising ACN.
November decline due to seasonal slowdown and higher inventories.
December stabilization despite weak demand and rising butadiene.
Quarter-end price: USD 2470/MT CFR Hamburg.

◼ Unlock Live Pricing Dashboards for Accurate and Timely Insights: https://www.chemanalyst.com/ChemAnalyst/PricingForm?Product=Nitrile%20Butadiene%20Rubber%20%28NBR%29

Production & Cost Structure Insights

Feedstock Dynamics

Butadiene: Mostly flat to weak across all regions, reducing cost-push support.
Acrylonitrile (ACN): Periodic firmness but inconsistent; insufficient to counteract weak demand-led declines.

Plant Operations

Japan experienced maintenance-related cuts.
North American producers maintained operations to fulfill long-term contracts.
Scheduled shutdowns in late 2024 helped manage oversupply.

Logistics & Freight

Falling freight rates in 2025 increased import competitive pressure.
Asia-US and Asia-Europe lanes saw particularly sharp rate reductions.
Europe faced intermittent strike-related port delays.

Procurement Outlook

Buyer Behavior Trends

Shift toward short-term purchasing due to price uncertainty.
Increased reliance on spot markets in APAC and Europe.
Conservative procurement strategies across all regions due to oversupply.
Expected Outlook

Q4 2025 expected to remain cautious and moderately bearish.
Automotive recovery remains the critical variable for reversing recent declines.
Inventory overhang remains a defining constraint in North America and APAC.
Export dynamics will continue shaping European price direction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):-

Why have NBR prices been declining globally?
Weak automotive demand, high inventories, and aggressive Asian export competition have collectively pressured prices, while stable feedstock costs provided no upward momentum.

What is the main demand driver for NBR?
The automotive sector-especially tires, hoses, belts, and seals-remains the largest consumer. Industrial rubber goods and gloves contribute significantly.

How do feedstock prices influence NBR?
ACN and butadiene costs shape the NBR production cost trend. When they rise, margins shrink; when they soften, producers lower offers to stimulate demand.

Which region showed the most volatility?
APAC exhibited the widest price swings due to overcapacity, demand weakness in Southeast Asia, and competitive export behavior.

Will NBR prices recover soon?
Recovery depends primarily on automotive sector revival and inventory normalization. Current forecasts indicate cautious, range-bound pricing through late 2025.

◼ Stay Updated Each Day with Verified Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) Price Movements: https://www.chemanalyst.com/ChemAnalyst/PricingForm?Product=Nitrile%20Butadiene%20Rubber%20%28NBR%29

How ChemAnalyst Supports Buyers with Real-Time Intelligence

ChemAnalyst empowers procurement teams and market strategists with real-time price data, weekly updates, production cost analyses, and forward-looking forecasts covering more than 450 commodities-including Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR).

Our platform delivers:

Live price tracking across North America, APAC, Europe, and global ports.
Clear explanations of price movements, including feedstock, logistics, demand, and trade factors.
Price forecasts that support budgeting and contract planning.
Supply chain risk monitoring, including plant shutdowns and freight disruptions.
Deep-dive market reports, backed by analysts with chemical engineering, economics, and trading expertise.
On-ground intelligence from teams stationed at 50+ global ports like Houston, Shanghai, Rotterdam, Busan, Jebel Ali, and Hamburg.

Contact Us:

UNITED STATES

Call +1 3322586602

420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York, NY,

United States, 10170

Germany

Call +49-221-6505-8833

S-01, 2.floor, Subbelrather Straße,

15a Cologne, 50823, Germany

Website: https://www.chemanalyst.com

About Us:

Welcome to ChemAnalyst, a next-generation platform for chemical and petrochemical intelligence where innovation meets practical insight. Recognized as "Product Innovator of the Year 2023" and ranked among the "Top 100 Digital Procurement Solutions Companies," we lead the digital transformation of the global chemical sector. Our online platform helps companies handle price volatility with structured analysis, real-time pricing, and reliable news and deal updates from across the world. Tracking over 500 chemical prices in more than 40 countries becomes simple and efficient with us.

This release was published on openPR.