Against the back of the coronavirus pandemic, demand and production of natural rubber is on a downward trend, prompting the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) to revise its 2020 global outlook for natural rubber (NR). The association said it expects NR production to grow by 2.7% this…
Category: Industry News
Coronavirus struggle forces Asian automakers to suspend production in US
Asian auto makers based in North America (NA) will temporarily suspend production from next week as the struggle with the new coronavirus outbreak continues. Among them is Toyota Motor: the Japanese auto maker employs 47,000 people in NA and will…
Cambodia to adjust rubber export tax rate to ease struggling farmers’ burden
The recently signed sub-decree exempting export tax on rubber will greatly assist the struggling rubber industry in Cambodia when it comes into effect in April this year. The sub-decree, signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, states that dry rubber will…
Epsilon Carbon to build environmentally-friendly carbon black facility in Karnataka, India
Coal tar derivatives company Epsilon Carbon will soon set up an environmentally-friendly carbon black facility in Karnataka, southern India. The company reveals that the first phase of the new, US$121.1 million carbon black facility is expected to be commissioned by…
Nokian Tyres’ Dayton factory starts up commercial production
Manufacturer Nokian Tyres has begun commercial tyre production at its North American (NA) factory in Dayton, Tennessee. It is the company’s third global production facility, joining others in Finland and Russia. The company officially broke ground on the factory in…
Rubber glove stocks rocket after COVID-19 pandemic declaration
Rubber glove manufacturers have seen increased demand since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic – gains were reflected in rubber glove stocks, including Malaysian rubber glove manufacturers such as Top Glove, Hartalega Holdings, Kossan Rubber Industries,…
Ansell to purchase 50% equity in Malaysian glove maker
Australian protection solutions provider Ansell Limited is acquiring 50% of the issued shares in Careplus (M) Sdn Bhd from Careplus Group Berhad for a total consideration of RM37 million (approx. US$9 million) including capital investments and subject to Careplus Group…
Continental’s 2020 outlook muted on auto sector decline
In a sharply deteriorating market environment, German technology firm Continental says it has managed to achieve its adjusted targets for fiscal 2019, as the Hanover-based company chalked up sales in the past fiscal year of EUR44.5 billion (2018: EUR44.4 billion), while the adjusted…
Pirelli hit by Covid-19; slows down production in Italy
Italian tyre maker Pirelli has become the latest “victim” of Covid-19. It says that an employee at its Settimo Torinese factory has been confirmed by healthcare authorities of having tested positive for Covid-19. To safeguard the other employees, Pirelli says…
Apollo Vredestein to “refocus” Dutch tyre plant operations and cut 750 jobs
Apollo Vredestein, a Netherlands-based tyre manufacturer acquired by India’s Apollo Tyres, is planning to phase out certain product lines related to high-performance passenger and farm tyres in Enschede, in eastern Netherlands, to ensure continued sustainability of its manufacturing operations. The…