Rubber & tire industry in numbers

SHARE PRICES

Selected tire manufacturers’ share-price trends

 Selected rubber product manufacturers’ share-price trends

MATERIALS

Natural rubber

Natural rubber futures fell across all major Far East exchanges as China began its week-long national day holiday 1 Oct. Prices were lower week-on-week on Japan’s OSE and Singapore’s SICOM exchanges amid “light fresh selling,” reported Japan Exchange Group (JPX). Long liquidation was also observed on both China’s SHFE and INE exchanges ahead of the holiday period. Trading will resume on SHFE and INE 9 Oct. “Overall activity remained subdued, with prices moving in a narrow range due to muted sentiment and the absence of Chinese market players,” JPX noted 6 Oct.

Selected rubber futures price trends on major trading exchanges

(ERJ calculation for selected futures pricing, as tracked by JPX) 

PROJECTS

Recently reported capacity additions & expansions

BUSINESS

M&A and Restructuring

Yokohama Rubber plans to revise the production allocation and network of the former Goodyear OTR business following its acquisition earlier this year. The Japanese group expects the planned revisions to improve cost competitiveness across the acquired operations.

Arlanxeo Elastomeres France is planning to cease operations at its synthetic rubber production site in Port Jerome, northern France. The move is in response to ‘persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness’ in the European chemicals industry. 

Denka Co. has identified its mothballed chloroprene rubber plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, as one of four key earnings challenges to be addressed under its medium-term management plan through 2030. The company is considering “all strategic options” for Denka Performance Elastomer (DPE), including a possible transfer or asset sale. 

TKH Group, the parent of tire & rubber machinery major VMI, is intensifying its focus on automation with plans to evaluate alternative ownership options for its ‘electrification' activities. Under a new 'capitalise & execute 2028 strategy', TKH will concentrate capital and growth efforts on its “asset-light” automation operations, including vision and machinery systems. 

Ineos Group has confirmed plans to shut down two production units in Rheinberg, Germany, impacting 175 jobs. The closures include an 'allylics unit', which produces a key ingredient for epoxy resins used in defence, aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy applications. Also set for closure is the 'electrochemical facility', which manufactures chlorine for use in clean water, medicines, industrial processes, and sanitation. 

Mutares has completed the acquisition of the Aumovio (formerly Continental Automotive) drum brake manufacturing and R&D location in Cairo Montenotte, Italy. Under the share deal, Mutares took over all employees and business operations at the site. 

Markets

Waste tire pyrolysis company Pyrum has reported a sharp rise in revenue and a reduced loss in the first half of 2025, while confirming its full-year forecast. Sales for the first six months of the year rose 79% year-on-year to €1.27 million while earnings (EBITDA) improved to a loss of €2.36 million, compared to a loss of €3.18 million last year. 

Automotive and heavy vehicle parts maker Akwel has reported an 87% year-on-year drop in earnings for the first six months of 2025, due mainly to a client dispute related to SCR (selective catalytic reduction) tanks. Earnings fell to €6.5 million for the first half, primarily due to the “balance of ongoing customer disputes concerning SCR tanks, resulting in an impact of €52.5 million on external costs,” Akwel said. 

Trade

Huntsman has expanded its distribution partnership with Wobatek Kunststoffvertriebs GmbH, a German distributor of engineering plastics for industrial applications in Central and Eastern Europe. Under the new agreement, announced 7 Oct, Wobatek will now distribute Huntsman’s Avalon, Irogran and Irostic TPU products in Austria and Poland, as well as southern Germany, Czech Republic and Switzerland. 

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