(June 5, 2026) With the full implementation of new standards related to green manufacturing and low-carbon energy-saving in domestic tires, the formulation iteration process in the domestic tire industry has accelerated across the board. As a core reinforcing material for low-rolling resistance tires, white carbon black, as a core reinforcing material, is seeing concentrated market demand for the market. In early June 2026, domestic orders for tire-grade high-dispersion silica remained strong, with downstream tire companies concentrating on stocking, becoming the core driver of overall demand recovery in the silica industry.
It is understood that the 2026 new "Green Tire Technical Specification" further tightens core indicators such as tire rolling resistance, energy consumption, and environmental emissions, making traditional carbon black reinforcement formulas insufficient to meet the new regulations. Compared to traditional carbon black, white carbon black offers lower rolling resistance, better wear resistance, and anti-aging properties, effectively reducing tire energy consumption and extending vehicle range. It is currently the optimal reinforcement filler for green tires and new energy vehicle tires. Under policy pressure, mainstream domestic tire companies are accelerating the replacement of raw material systems and comprehensively promoting the "carbon black to white carbon black" formula upgrade.
According to end-market feedback, the usage rate of silica-based black in domestic passenger car tires and new energy-specific tires has increased significantly. The proportion of white carbon black filler in traditional fuel vehicle tires has generally risen to over 35%, while the proportion of white carbon black in new energy heavy-duty and silent tires has surpassed 50%. Major tire manufacturers are continuously adjusting their production formulas to adapt to new regulations and seize the new energy vehicle supporting market, with their purchases of silica increasing month by month.
Data from mainstream domestic white carbon black producers shows that orders for high-dispersion white carbon black for tires in June increased by 18% compared to May and by more than 25% year-on-year. Production lines operated at full capacity, while some specifications faced short-term supply shortages and production delays. Unlike traditional weak demand for footwear materials and general rubber, tire sector demand has strengthened against the trend, strongly supporting the overall fundamentals of the silica market.
Besides the domestic market, overseas green tire certification standards have been simultaneously upgraded. The entry threshold for low-energy tires in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and other regions continues to rise, driving the optimization of China's tire export structure and indirectly increasing demand for silica supporting products. Customs supporting data shows that in the first half of the year, the proportion of green tires with a high proportion of silica in tire exports increased significantly, which in turn drove steady growth in upstream orders for silica exports.
Industry research institutions analyze that this policy-driven tire formula upgrade is not a short-term trend but a long-term industry trend. There is still vast potential for white carbon black substitution in the domestic tire industry. With the arrival of the peak tire production and sales season in the second half of the year, end-user companies' stocking demand will be further released, and the incremental demand for white carbon black will continue to expand.
Industry insiders predict that the future core of market competition for white carbon will focus on customized products specifically for tires with high dispersion, low lag, and high wear resistance. Functional white carbon black adapted to the new green tire regulations will remain in a long-term supply shortage and become the core incremental track for the industry.
