India’s output of natural rubber (NR) dropped to a six-year low of 1.26 lakh tonnes in the first quarter of 2018/19, with consumption at a high of 3.02 lakh tonnes. The production-consumption gap widened to 58% of consumption in Q1…
Lanxess to sell remaining 50% stake in Arlanxeo jv to Saudi Aramco
Specialty chemicals group Lanxess plans to sell its remaining 50% stake in Arlanxeo to its joint venture partner Saudi Aramco. The two companies, that founded Arlanxeo in 2016 as a 50:50 joint venture for synthetic rubber, have signed a respective…
Arlanxeo investing in rubber sites in Brazil and France
Netherlands-headquartered synthetic rubber firm Arlanxeo says it is strengthening its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of synthetic rubber with an investment in EUR mid double-digit million to modernise its production sites in Triunfo, Brazil and La Wantzenau, France. In…
Continental partners with AI research to speed up neural networks in cars
German technology company Continental says that it is expanding its international network for artificial intelligence (AI) in US’s Silicon Valley. “We are joining forces with the world’s leading AI researchers,” said Demetrio Aiello, Head of Continental’s Corporate Artificial Intelligence and…
Zenises purchases Europe’s largest independent retreader
Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres, Europe’s largest independent retreader, has been acquired by UK-based tyre firm Zenises Group that has not only purchased the entire company and equipment but has also acquired the prime 11 acre site in Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK, where…
Continental starts construction on its new headquarters in Hanover
Technology company Continental is beginning the construction of its new headquarters in Hanover. The first development phase for the building complex is to be completed by the end of 2020 and to provide space for 1,250 employees. According to the…
Yokohama develops hose to facilitate US auto shift to green refrigerant
Yokohama Rubber Co has developed the ACBR series of hoses for use in car air conditioners. The new hoses are compatible for use with HFO-1234yf, which is seeing more widespread application as the next-generation refrigerant for car air conditioners. The…
Yokohama’s joint research with Thai universities for future development of rubber
Tokyo-based Yokohama Rubber Co. says that the results of joint research projects conducted since 2013 with two universities in Thailand, a major producer of natural rubber, were recently presented at The International Polymer Conference of Thailand 2018 (PCT-8). The joint…
ANRPC revises outlook for rubber sector with higher growth
According to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), during first half of 2018 (H1 2018), the global demand of natural rubber (NR) grew 5%, year-on-year, to 6.96 million tonnes. Meanwhile, the global supply of NR rose 4.5%, year-on-year,…
Bridgestone wins tyre patent suit against China’s Fangxing Rubber
Tokyo-headquartered tyre maker Bridgestone Corporation says that it has received a favourable ruling from the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court in its lawsuit regarding the infringement of patent rights against major Chinese tyre manufacturer Fangxing Rubber Co., Ltd. (Fangxing). In September…








