ERJ News: Rubber Industry Players of the Week

1. ETRMA concern over outlook for crisis-hit tire industry
This week was a reminder of how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the tire & rubber industry globally, with latest data published by various organisations suggesting a period of downturn. Our top story this week, therefore, highlights the “gloomy” outlook for the European tire industry in 2020. Read more

2. ANRPC revises down rubber production outlook despite growing demand
Also hit by Covid, the world production of natural rubber is set to decline, as the Indian and Thai NR segments are severely impacted by shortage of labour and rising number of cases. Read more

3. ownsized TARRC to be ‘self-funding’ within three years
UK-based Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) revealed that it has undergone a major downsizing in recent months, to address ongoing financial troubles, dating back to pre-Covid times. Read more

4. US delays deadline for ruling on Asian-sourced tire duties 
Also this week, the US Department of Commerce agreed to delay until 29 Dec the deadline for publishing its preliminary determination of whether PCR tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are being dumped. The extension was requested by United Steelworkers (USW) union to allow Commerce more time to gather information. Read more

5. Arlanxeo selling Canadian olefins business to Mitsubishi 
Dutch-based synthetic rubber major, Arlanxeo announced this week an agreement to sell its olefins business in Canada to Diamond Petrochemicals Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. Read more

6. ContiTech targets future mobility at Hamburg location
Another top hit this week was a transformation process currently underway at ContiTech’s Hamburg-Harburg site, which is now focusing on digitalisation, future mobility and plastics engineering in addition to its core rubber processing activities. Read more

7. US hose reinforcement supplier acquires Intercord Thüringen
US supplier of fibre reinforcement for hoses Beaver Manufacturing Co. has announced the acquisition of Germany-based Intercord Thüringen GmbH, a specialist in tire and rubber cords. Read more

8. Conti rolls out first TBR tires from US plant
Almost a year after its ‘ceremonial’ inauguration, Continental AG’s €1.2m truck tire plant in Clinton, Mississippi, shipped its first load of tires to new local independent dealer Southern Tire Mart on 12 Oct. Read more

9. Phillips Carbon Black to complete expansion project early next year
In Palej, India, Phillips Carbon Black Ltd (PCBL) has announced that it is preparing to commission a 32 kilotonne per annum expansion project at its facility in Gujarat, in the first quarter of 2021. Read more

10. Linglong unveils "bio-based rubber" tires
Chinese tire major Linglong unveiled a new range of ‘bio-based rubber tires’, developed in collaboration with Beijing Chemical Industry University, during the 22nd China International Industry Fair (CIIF). Read more

11. US labour regulator sides with union in Kumho dispute 
Putting an end to three years of standoff, US federal labour regulators sided with union officials over allegations of unfair labour practices at Kumho Tire’s manufacturing plant in Macon, Georgia. Read more