Singapore-basedInternational Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has forecast a surplus production of natural rubber (NR) in 2012. The group expects it to rise 7.8% to 11.8 million tonnes this year as consequence of new production available from trees planted in the…
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Tyre Industry: Speeding up towards sustainability
Amid environmental issues over rising carbon emissions, the rubber/tyre sector is stepping up ...
BASF to add on butadiene supply in Europe
In view of the tight supply and high prices of butadiene, due to the high demand from the tyre market, German firmBASF plans to build a plant at its site in Antwerp, Belgium. The 155,000 tonne/year-plant is scheduled to start…
Gevo to build plant in Malaysia
American renewable chemicals and biofuels firmGevohas inked a collaborative agreement with the Malaysian government’s East Coast Economic Region Development Council, Malaysian Biotechnology Corp (BiotechCorp) and the Terengganu state government to build the world’s first bio-isobutanol plant in Kerteh, Terengganu. It…
China focus for Sibur and Synthomer
Sinopec and Russian petrochemicals group Sibur are setting up a joint venture to produce synthetic rubber in Shanghai. It will use patents and technologies from Sibur to produce nitrile butadiene rubber and isoprene rubber. Sinopec andSiburhave also set up a…
Sabic and ExxonMobil proceed joint venture
Sabic and US chemical firm ExxonMobil’s joint venture,Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company (Kemya), which is constructing a world-scale speciality elastomers facility, has approved the next stage of project development, including engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). The facility will be integrated with the…
Toyo to focus on automotive sector
Come November, Toyo Tire & Rubber will sell anti-vibration rubber for automotives in Thailand. The sector is positioned as a core product for the firm that has established three production plants in Japan and four overseas.
AXA invests in Italian rubber firm
AXA Private Equity has bought a 82.4% stake in Italian rubber component manufacturer Novotema from private equity firm 3i Group that bought Novotema in 2003 for EUR24 million. As part of the transaction, Novotema’s management team acquired the 17.6% of…
Saudi tyre market to grow
Saudi Arabian tyre sales are forecast to surge over US$10 billion by 2014, according to TechSci Research. The tyre sales have three major components: OEM, replacement and exports, including re-exports. The used car market was valued at more than US$800…
Bridgestone constructing Vietnamese plant
The facility, the biggest foreign investment in HaiPhong, is being built on a 1.02 million sq m lot
Tyre makers set up in China
As the demand for road vehicles continues to climb, so too will the need for more tyres. Tire makers Trelleborg and Kenda bolster production capacity in the mainland