Why Raw Rubber Should Not Be Compared on Per-Ton Price Alone

Total Cost Framework

Current total cost ≈ current raw rubber price + mastication cost + quality loss + other processing costs; candidate total cost ≈ candidate raw rubber price + reduced mastication cost + candidate quality loss + other processing costs. Only after completing same-formulation A/B functional-equivalence verification should one proceed to second-stage process-optimization calculations.

For high-load mixing scenarios, the capacity value released by mastication equipment, reductions in work-in-process inventory, and lower batch-to-batch variation should also be calculated.

Also Applies to Bulk Grades

A TSR20 program should not be evaluated solely on the per-ton raw rubber price; instead, compare the cost per ton of qualified compound. For mining wear parts, conveyor belts, crawler tracks, and similar products, one should go further to compare cost per unit service life rather than the raw rubber price alone.

Boundaries

If the customer does not use premastication, the current process has long been stable, and raw rubber price is the only core issue, constant-viscosity rubber cannot be forcefully positioned as a mandatory upgrade. Any combination that passes technical evaluation but fails on total cost should retain its technical qualification without switching for the time being.