Global consumption of natural rubber is expected to reach 11.5 million mt in 2012, up slightly from an estimated 11 million mt this year, the International Rubber Study Group said Tuesday.
"In the longer term, global rubber consumption is forecast to reach 36 million mt by 2020, with natural rubber consumption of 16.5 million mt," IRSG said in the December 2011 edition of the World Rubber Industry Outlook.
Global rubber consumption, consisting of both natural and synthetic rubber, is expected to touch 25.9 million mt in 2011 and rise to 27.2 million mt in 2012.
At the end of the third quarter this year, global rubber use hit 25.8 million mt, 6% higher year on year, the group said, but did not provide the actual breakdown of natural and synthetic rubber demand.