SYNTHETIC
RUBBER: Shipments rose 3% in 1997, and all categories advanced
Shipments
% annual change
Thousands of metric tons
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1996-97
1987-97
Styrene-butadiene
rubber
847
829
827
791
727
796
817
851
878
907
939
4%
1%
Polybutadiene
414
430
427
431
416
465
473
505
523
535
555
4
3
Ethylene-propylene
205
224
225
208
192
207
227
262
270
289
295
2
4
Nitrile, solid
72
75
72
69
71
74
78
84
83
85
86
1
2
Polychloroprene
81
82
79
79
70
72
70
76
70
70
72
3
-1
Othera
457
399
393
380
362
381
400
408
427
437
447
2
0
TOTAL
2,076
2,039
2,023
1,958
1,838
1,995
2,065
2,186
2,251
2,323
2,394
3%
1%
Note:Data include Canada. aIncludes butyl styrene-butadiene
rubber
latex, nitrile latex, polyisoprene, and miscellaneous others.
Source:International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers
SYNTHETIC FIBERS: Total production rose, but cellulosics continued
downward
spiral
Production
% annual change
Millions of lb
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1996-97
1987-97
NONCELLULOSIC FIBERS
Acrylica
592
588
543
506
454
439
433
442
432
465
461
-1%
-2%
Nylon
2,689
2,669
2,740
2,662
2,535
2,556
2,659
2,740
2,703
2,799
2,836
1
1
Olefin
1,494
1,588
1,639
1,810
1,839
1,970
2,114
2,388
2,391
2,414
2,519
4
5
Polyester
3,541
3,680
3,594
3,195
3,411
3,576
3,557
3,858
3,887
3,829
4,062
6
1
TOTAL
8,316
8,525
8,516
8,173
8,239
8,541
8,763
9,428
9,413
9,507
9,878
4%
2%
CELLULOSIC FIBERS
Acetateb & rayon
605
614
580
505
486
495
505
500
498
475
459
-3%
-3%
GRAND TOTAL
8,921
9,139
9,096
8,678
8,725
9,036
9,268
9,928
9,911
9,982
10,337
4%
1%
a Includes modacrylic. b Includes diacetate and triacetate;
excludes
production for cigarette filters. Source: Fiber Economics Bureau
