Rubber

Original: Christina Williams 

Editor: Morgan White

Rubber journey from China to Baltimore. This graphic depicts a shipment of rubber that departed a port in Ningbo, China, crossed the Pacific Ocean, was transhipped to another vessel in the Panama Canal Zone, and ended its voyage in the Port of Baltimore. (Searates)

Rubber is everywhere in daily life, often without us even noticing. From tires to gloves, erasers to conveyor belts, it keeps industries and households running smoothly. Every shipment of rubber supports jobs, fuels manufacturing, and keeps goods moving across the U.S.

Natural rubber, also called gum rubber, comes from latex—the sap of trees found mostly in South America, Africa, and Asia. Major exporters of natural rubber include Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Ivory Coast, and India in that order. Workers collect latex through rubber tapping, making shallow cuts in tree bark to harvest the sap without harming the tree. This raw latex is then sent to factories for processing into solid rubber sheets, ready to be made into products.

Rubber manufacturing is complex and includes mixing raw latex with other ingredients that vary by application and product. Typical industry formulations may include carbon black (to strengthen and darken it), sulfur (for vulcanization), mineral additives, plasticizers, and small amounts of processing agents and accelerators. About 50% of the mix is raw rubber. This combination makes the final product flexible, strong, water-resistant, and durable.

MV DALI was carrying 7 tons of rubber mallets and 43 tons of latex gloves as part of its cargo on the day it crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. (Photo by kees torn. Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Rubber is used in thousands of products: car parts, tires, industrial machinery, flooring, clothing, and safety gloves. The natural biodegradability of latex also makes it more eco-friendly than many synthetic alternatives. Why does this matter? Flexible, strong, and safe latex products are good for the economy.

Rubber and rubber products represent a major U.S. import category, valued at over $36 billion annually. In 2024, the country received 228,602 shipments of rubber products. The Port of Baltimore handled 887 of these shipments, totaling about 23,642 tons—roughly 11.2 tons per shipment. Efficient handling of rubber at the port keeps factories supplied, supports jobs, and ensures consumer products reach stores on time.

Major importers using Baltimore include A&A Global Industries (54 shipments) and ARP Materials (45 shipments). Vessels like the TITAN and TALISMAN, operated by lines such as ZIM and Triumph, frequently transport these goods.

One container of rubber from A&A Global Industries shows just how global the process is. It left Ningbo, China, on January 8, 2024, stopped at Balboa, Panama, and was transshipped in Colon before arriving in Baltimore on March 21. The importer picked it up six days later, and the container was returned empty by April 1. Rubber travels thousands of miles and multiple transport modes to reach American factories, illustrating the complex supply chains that keep products flowing.

Rubber is more than just tree sap; it’s a vital commodity supporting industries, jobs, and daily life. From harvesting in tropical forests to shipping through the Port of Baltimore, it connects global trade to local communities. The port’s role in handling thousands of tons of rubber each year ensures that industries from transportation to healthcare have the materials they need, strengthening both the local and national economy.