Chinese tyre makers, already the dominant players in the U.S. tyre import/export arena, strengthened their position considerably last year, raising their exports of passenger and light truck tyres to the U.S. by 55.8 and 75.8 percent, respectively, over 2012. Passenger…
Zamboanga rubber co-ops to get more SSFs
More shared service facilities (SSFs) will be turned over by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to rubber growers’ cooperatives and associations next month in Zamboanga Peninsula, particularly in the province Zamboanga Sibugay. Sitti Amina Jain, DTI regional director,…
Bridgestone plant making off-road tires as expansion project continues
The largest industrial project in South Carolina history is more than halfway done, and Bridgestone is already making 9-foot tires while construction continues on the part of the plant that will make 12-foot tires. “We have a qualification process in…
Lanxess to raise rubber chemicals prices in April 2014
Chemicals company Lanxess will raise its prices for its rubber chemicals with effect from 1 April 2014 due to ‘higher raw material prices and unfavourable exchange rate effects’. “This is a good first measure to improve our margins and bring…
Michelin launches updated Latitude SUV tyre
Michelin has introduced a new, updated version of its Latitude on-road SUV tyre, which is designed to improve fuel efficiency and improve braking performance while lasting for longer than its predecessor. The updated Michelin Latitude 3 tyre is available to…
Evonik opens silica plant expansion in Thailand
With growth driven by the demand for fuel saving tyres and life science applications in Southeast Asia, German chemicals firm Evonik has expanded production for precipitated silica in Rayong, Thailand. With this investment, Evonik has increased its capacity for precipitated…
Russian Rosneft to acquire indirect stake in Italian tyre maker Pirelli
Russia’s largest crude producer Rosneft has agreed to take a 50% stake in a consortium that will control 26.19% of Pirelli, following a reorganization of the Italian tyre producer’s ownership structure, bank Intesa Sanpaolo said in a statement Monday. “Nuove…
Malay firm gets partner JV for new rubber plant
Malaysian agribusiness firm Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad Co and locally based Pho La Min Trading Ltd (PLM) have entered into a joint-venture agreement to build a rubber processing plant in Tanintharyi Region, the two firms announced last week. The…
Michelin’s Alpin 5 to revolutionise winter tyre concept
Tyre Giant Michelin added Alpin 5 to its winter tyre portfolio at an event held in Austria last month. The tyre, Michelin says, is a result of immense research that was done with the aim of understanding the usage of…
Rubber seen advancing as drought reduces Southeast Asian supply
Natural rubber will probably climb as dry weather cuts production in Southeast Asia, the main growing region, and consumption increases, said the International Rubber Consortium Ltd. Output in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia is set to drop by 6 percent to…