Vietnam has surpassed Malaysia and India to become the world’s third biggest rubber producer, according to the latest statistics released early this month by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC). The country produced 1.043 million tons of natural…
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Sinopec cuts East, South China ex-works butadiene prices by Yuan 500/mt
China Petroleum and Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, has cut its ex-works butadiene prices in East and South China by Yuan 500/mt ($81/mt) to Yuan 8,000/mt effective March 15, a company source confirmed Monday. This is equivalent to about $1,085/mt on…
Vietnam’s rubber exporters likely to face difficulties on low demand
Vietnam’s rubber exporters are likely to face further difficulties because of the low demand from major rubber importers, the Vietnam Rubber Association said on Tuesday. In 2013, Vietnam exported 1.078 million tons of rubber worth 2. 51 billion U.S. dollars,…
Chinese car tyre imports to U.S. at an all-time high
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…