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Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Maximilian Weikert Maximilian Weikert Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: June 2025 WZ C20.17DE

Revenue

€1.5bn

2025

€1.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

2,563

Businesses

16

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

The chemical building blocks of synthetic rubber are based on the crude petrol naphtha, which is obtained by distilling crude oil in a refinery. In so-called steam crackers, the naphtha is broken down into the various industry raw materials butadiene, isoprene and styrene using a great deal of energy. Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, prices for crude oil, natural gas and electricity rose dramatically, leading to significant increases in raw material costs of up to 75 %. As the additional costs were passed on to customers, prices for synthetic rubber rose sharply. Although industry sales have increased by an average of 0.8% per year over the past five years, this growth is primarily due to the so-called base effect: In 2020, there was an exceptionally sharp drop in sales of 15.5% as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The resulting low starting level significantly distorted the average growth of subsequent years upwards. Adjusted for inflation, sales are still more than 10% below the 2019 level, which highlights the ongoing headwind for the industry.The industry companies and important upstream sectors continue to suffer from high electricity and natural gas prices as well as considerable bureaucratic costs. According to the German Rubber Industry Association (WDK), raw material prices are still around 40% higher than in the years of high demand before the pandemic, which is impacting international competitiveness. A slight decline in sales of 0.2% to €1.5 billion is forecast for 2025, mainly because demand from industry, particularly from tyre manufacturing as the main sales market, remains weak. In addition, an escalation of the customs conflict with the USA could put further pressure on the industry and lead to a further drop in demand and higher declines in sales. The announced Europe-wide closures of steam cracker plants in 2025 could also mean that the supply of raw materials for industry companies will increasingly have to be covered by imports, which could create supply bottlenecks and dependencies.The future prospects for German synthetic rubber production are optimistic despite the current challenging market conditions. Industry companies reacted early to rising production costs by relocating low-margin standard products abroad over the past decade and significantly increasing resource efficiency at their domestic sites. In Germany, the leading companies in the sector are now consistently focussing on research, innovation and the production of speciality rubber and high-quality rubber compounds, which continues to give them a leading position internationally. According to the European industry association Cefic, a decisive advantage of the European chemical industry is its very good carbon footprint in an international comparison, meaning that a migration of production could jeopardise global climate protection. This realisation now also seems to be echoed by the EU Commission. As part of the so-called omnibus package, initial steps have been announced to relieve and strengthen European industrial locations. At the same time, major research projects at BASF and the Fraunhofer Institute are providing impetus for a more sustainable and climate-friendly production of synthetic rubber. If there is no trade conflict with the USA and the political representatives in Brussels and Berlin consistently implement their announcements, IBISWorld expects sales to grow by an average of 2.1% per year to 1.7 billion euros by 2030 and profit margins to remain stable at around 9%.

Trends and Insights

  • Commodity prices have a direct impact on industry sales. The dependence on petrochemical raw materials, which are an important input factor for the production of synthetic rubber, is particularly high.
  • Styrene-butadiene rubber is the synthetic rubber with the largest production volume. Due to its high abrasion resistance and ageing stability, it is primarily used in tyre production.
  • The centre region accounts for the highest number of companies in the sector. Numerous industry customers are based there, as well as relevant suppliers from the chemical sector.
  • Despite the strong competitive position of German manufacturers worldwide, international competition in the industry is increasing. Manufacturers from Asia in particular are likely to expand their research activities and increase their range of high-performance rubbers.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.5bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Volatile commodity prices have recently been a key factor in sales development

  • The industry is heavily dependent on petrochemical raw materials, whose price trends are directly reflected in sales. While the pandemic-related slump in the price of crude oil in 2020 reduced costs in the short term, the recovery of the global economy from 2021 and the effects of the war in Ukraine and Russian oil policy led to a drastic price increase. As a result, commodity prices for the industry rose by an annual average of 75% in 2021 and 2022, an unprecedented level.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Bio-based raw materials could improve the environmental footprint of synthetic rubber in the long term

  • The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research is working on the development of bio-based monomers, the basic materials for the production of synthetic rubber, as part of a research project. The aim is to obtain key starting materials such as butadiene, styrene and isoprene from renewable raw materials instead of fossil sources in future. The focus here is particularly on the tyre industry, for which innovative material solutions are to be developed that combine previously unattained property profiles and the social goal of sustainable mobility.

Biggest companies in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (€m)
2025
Arlanxeo Deutschland GmbH
605.0
Synthos AG
320.0
Synthomer plc
275.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Latex made from synthetic rubber, Facts and Other synthetic rubber. Latex made from synthetic rubber is the largest segment of the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Falling demand from the paper industry for latex made from synthetic rubber is changing the customer structure

  • Latex made from synthetic rubber primarily comprises latex made from nitrile and chlorobutadiene rubber (NBR, CR), which is made resistant by the effects of heat and pressure. This allows the product to be further processed into waterproof fabrics such as diving suits. Latex made from synthetic rubber is also used to manufacture latex mattresses, carpets and shoes.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies in this sector are active in the production of synthetic rubber such as latex and butadiene rubber. They also produce mixtures of natural rubber or rubber-like rubber resins and synthetic rubber. This does not include the recovery of rubber for the production of secondary raw materials or the further processing of rubber into tyres and other rubber parts.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany include Production of synthetic rubber, Production of factice and Production of rubber compounds, including with natural rubber or rubber-like rubber resins.

Companies

Companies covered in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany include Arlanxeo Deutschland GmbH, Synthos AG and Synthomer plc.

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany include polymer, butadia, styrol, petrochemistry, kautschuk and basic chemistry.

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 20.17 - Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Commodity prices have a direct impact on industry sales. The dependence on petrochemical raw materials, which are an important input factor for the production of synthetic ru...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Styrene-butadiene rubber is the synthetic rubber with the largest production volume. Due to its high abrasion resistance and ageing stability, it is primarily used in tyre pr...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The centre region accounts for the highest number of companies in the sector. Numerous industry customers are based there, as well as relevant suppliers from the chemical sec...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Despite the strong competitive position of German manufacturers worldwide, international competition in the industry is increasing. Manufacturers from Asia in particular are ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Industry leader Arlanxeo Deutschland emerged from a joint venture between the German speciality chemicals group Lanxess and the Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco. Since ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Arlanxeo Deutschland GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Synthos AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Synthomer plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Arlanxeo Deutschland GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Synthos AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Synthomer plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The German Institute for Rubber Technology (DIK) was founded as a registered association in 1981 to strengthen the domestic rubber industry. The focus of the association is o...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Increasing international competition for highly qualified specialists and managers is driving up personnel costs. Demographic trends in Germany are likely to exacerbate the s...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany is €1.5bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2025?

There are 16 businesses in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany are Arlanxeo Deutschland GmbH, Synthos AG and Synthomer plc

What does the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany include?

Production of synthetic rubber and Production of factice are part of the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany is Arlanxeo Deutschland GmbH.

How competitive is the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Primary Form Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing industry in Germany.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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