Australia Elastomers Market Overview, 2030

Australia’s elastomers market is relatively smaller compared to global hubs such as the U.S., China, or South Korea, but it plays a vital role in supporting the country’s automotive aftermarket, mining, construction, oil & gas, and healthcare sectors. Demand is primarily import-driven due to limited domestic petrochemical and polymer production capacity, with synthetic elastomers sourced mainly from Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea) and natural rubber imports from Southeast Asia. Tires, seals, hoses, conveyor belts, and medical-grade components represent the bulk of local demand. Key risks for the market include dependence on imports, foreign exchange volatility affecting raw material costs , and global supply disruptions, which have become more prominent since COVID-19 and geopolitical tensions. Environmental concerns around waste tire management and the lack of large-scale domestic recycling infrastructure also pose structural risks. However, opportunities are emerging: Australia’s booming infrastructure projects, mining operations requiring durable elastomeric products, and growing healthcare sector offer consistent demand streams. Moreover, the push for sustainability is creating scope for tire-recycling technologies, circular economy initiatives, and the introduction of recyclable thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Over the next 5–10 years, the Australian elastomers market is expected to grow moderately, largely driven by demand in mining equipment, infrastructure, EV adoption (boosting TPE and silicone demand), and healthcare elastomers. Growth will be more value-driven than volume-driven, with innovation in high-performance elastomers and recycling technologies providing opportunities for local compounders, distributors, and international suppliers catering to Australia’s industrial base.

According to the research report ""Australia Elastomers Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Australia Elastomers market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 2.24 Billion by 2030. Regulation in Australia’s elastomers market is shaped by environmental, health, and product standards overseen by multiple agencies. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS), replaced by AICIS (Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme), regulates elastomer-related chemicals, requiring compliance for imports and new formulations. Occupational safety standards, overseen by Safe Work Australia, govern exposure to hazardous chemicals such as butadiene and styrene, impacting compounding and handling processes. The Australian Standards (AS) system enforces performance and safety standards across industries: for example, AS standards apply to elastomeric seals in pipelines, automotive parts, and medical devices. Sustainability has become a stronger policy driver, especially around waste tire management. The government has banned the export of whole and baled waste tires under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, pushing local industry toward domestic recycling solutions, crumb rubber production, and its incorporation into road infrastructure. Additionally, infrastructure projects are increasingly requiring green materials, creating room for elastomer products that are recyclable, bio-based, or energy-efficient. Corporate sustainability commitments, particularly among mining giants and automotive players, further encourage the adoption of recycled or lower-carbon elastomers. While these regulatory and sustainability measures increase compliance costs, they also incentivize innovation, with opportunities for firms investing in TPEs, silicone elastomers for healthcare, and recycling technologies. Ultimately, regulation is nudging the market toward cleaner, safer, and more sustainable elastomer usage, aligned with Australia’s broader environmental and carbon-reduction strategies.

The demand for elastomers in Australia is spread across multiple industries, with notable strengths in mining, construction, automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods. The automotive sector is dominated by replacement tires and aftermarket parts rather than OEM production (since Australia ceased large-scale car manufacturing in 2017). Tires, hoses, and seals for passenger cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles remain the largest single application. Mining and heavy equipment form a unique demand base: elastomers are widely used in conveyor belts, vibration dampening, hoses, seals, and protective coatings, crucial to Australia’s globally significant mining exports. Building & construction consumes elastomers for waterproofing membranes, adhesives, joint sealants, and flooring, supported by large infrastructure investments in transport, housing, and renewable energy. Healthcare & medical is a fast-growing segment, with silicone elastomers and medical-grade TPEs being used in tubing, masks, catheters, and disposables particularly relevant post-pandemic. Consumer goods and lifestyle products such as footwear and sporting goods rely on elastomers for soles and flexible parts. Electrical & electronics remains relatively small compared to Asia, but demand exists for insulating materials and silicone-based components. The packaging sector consumes TPEs for seals and flexible packaging, while niche applications exist in aerospace and defense (seals, gaskets) and oil & gas equipment. This wide industrial footprint ensures stable baseline demand, with mining, infrastructure, and healthcare offering the highest growth potential. The push toward renewable energy projects and electric vehicles is also expected to gradually shift elastomer usage toward recyclable TPEs and specialty silicones.

Australia’s elastomer market splits between thermoset elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), with thermosets currently dominating due to the country’s reliance on durable, heavy-duty applications. Thermoset elastomers such as natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile rubber (NBR), and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) are extensively used in mining conveyor belts, tires, industrial seals, and oil & gas equipment, where resistance to abrasion, heat, and chemicals is crucial. These traditional elastomers remain the backbone of Australia’s mining- and construction-focused economy. However, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are gaining traction, especially in consumer goods, healthcare, and packaging. Their recyclability, lightweight properties, and ease of processing make them ideal for tubing, medical devices, soft-touch grips, footwear, and sealing applications. Silicone elastomers, often grouped with TPEs in high-value markets, are experiencing rising adoption in healthcare, renewable energy (solar panel sealing), and electrical insulation. The growing emphasis on sustainability and recycling is expected to accelerate TPE adoption in Australia, particularly in automotive components, consumer products, and packaging. Over time, while thermosets will continue to dominate mining and heavy industry, TPEs and silicones are expected to capture the fastest growth due to their alignment with sustainability, lightweighting, and performance-driven applications. This transition positions TPEs as the key growth driver in Australia’s elastomers product mix for the coming decade.

By material, the Australian elastomers market divides into natural elastomers and synthetic elastomers, with synthetic elastomers holding the majority share. Natural elastomers, primarily natural rubber, are imported from Southeast Asia, used mainly in tire production, conveyor belts, and general-purpose industrial goods. The reliance on imports makes the segment vulnerable to supply disruptions, currency volatility, and global price swings. Synthetic elastomers including SBR, NBR, EPDM, polyurethane elastomers, silicones, and fluoroelastomers are more widely used across industries, as they offer higher durability, chemical resistance, and performance suited for mining, construction, and healthcare. Australia lacks large-scale domestic petrochemical production, so most synthetics are imported in raw or semi-finished form and compounded locally by distributors and niche compounders to meet industry-specific requirements. Growth is strongest in specialty synthetics such as silicone elastomers (for healthcare and electronics) and polyurethane elastomers (for mining equipment and wear-resistant applications). Emerging interest in bio-based elastomers and recycled rubber is also visible, supported by government incentives for recycling and corporate ESG targets, especially in tire and construction sectors. Over the next decade, synthetic elastomers will remain dominant in both volume and value, but natural rubber will continue to hold importance in tires and mining-related products. The fastest-growing opportunities lie in high-performance silicone elastomers, TPEs, and recycled elastomer applications, reflecting both Australia’s industrial needs and its commitment to sustainability.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Elastomers Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By End-Use Industry
• Automotive & Transportation
• Building & Construction
• Healthcare & Medical
• Consumer Goods & Lifestyle
• Electrical & Electronics
• Industrial & Machinery
• Packaging
• Others(Aerospace & Defense, Energy & Oil & Gas, and more )

By Product Type
• Thermoset Elastomers
• Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs)

By Material Type
• Natural Elastomers
• Synthetic Elastomers Show more