US styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) price movement for March reflected a lack of downstream consumer demand amid the ongoing global economic slowdown, market participants said during the week ended 4 March.

Producers recently decided to lower March values by various amounts, depending on their February selling prices. The price cuts brought the 1502 non-oil grade market down to near 90 cents/lb, and the 1712 extended grade market down to about the low-to-mid 80s cents/lb, sellers said.

The prices in the table above will be updated later in the month following confirmation from producers about the March contract.

Overall SBR demand continued to run under seasonal norms, a source noted, adding that the typical increase in demand seen in the second quarter was unlikely, given the lack of consumer interest in downstream goods.

The two largest market sectors of SBR are tyres for new cars, and the replacement tyre market. New