Mesnac leader sets out 2026 targets for China rubber Industry

Qingdao, China - China's rubber machinery and moulds industry achieved overall positive growth in 2025 despite multiple challenges, Mesnac chairman and president Guan Bingzheng reported at the recent China Rubber Annual Conference in Qingdao.

At the China Rubber Industry Association event, held 24-27 March, industry leaders held in-depth discussions on the industry's operational status in 2025, existing challenges, and development trends for 2026.

Attendees included Zhu Hong, deputy secretary-general of the CRIA, Jiang Xin, secretary-general of the Rubber Machinery and Molds branch as well as Guan, who is branch chairman.

In his speech, the tire & rubber machinery maker's leader noted that exports of rubber machinery accelerated "against the trend, while the mould industry steadily climbed," said a Mesnac release about the event.

Guan, it added, emphasised that the Chinese industry's development "had transitioned from a phase of scale expansion to one of quality enhancement."

This year marks the start of a "15th five-year" development plan period, a critical five-year phase for advancing China from a "major rubber nation" to a "strong rubber nation," stated Mesnac.

Regarding the development of the industry in 2026, Guan advised a strategic focus "on green, intelligent, and international development and active [alignment] with the trend of tire companies expanding overseas."

Furthermore, he called on the machinery industry to "actively align" with the trend of tire companies expanding overseas to achieve "coordinated global development and mutual benefits."

A third strategic target, proposed by the Mesnac chief, should concentrate on "new-energy tire demands and AI technology upgrades to empower the industry's high-end transformation."