The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has said in its latest monthly natural rubber (NR) report that the global NR production is set to increase only marginally in 2025 after a 3.5 percent year-on-year increase last year.

The total NR output is expected to be 14.897 million tonnes this year, up only 0.3 percent from the 14.855 million tonnes recorded in 2024, according to the projection. Specifically, it was anticipated that Indonesia would record a significant decline in output as a result of a switch from rubber to other crops, particularly palm oil and a reduction in tapped area. It is anticipated that Indonesian output will drop by over 10 percent annually to 2,041 million tonnes.

Malaysia's output is expected to drop 4.2 percent to 370,000 tonnes in 2025 as a result of ageing rubber trees and a shift to other commodities. Despite its larger objective of growing the nation's NR sector by 2030, Vietnam, the third-largest producer in the globe, is expected to witness a 1.3 percent drop in output to 1.280 million tonnes. China anticipates a six percent increase in production to 933,000 tonnes, while other NR-producing nations are expected to boost output. Production in the rest of the world, which includes non-ANRPC members and African producers, is predicted to rise by 3.5 percent this year to 3.293 million tonnes.

It is projected that ANRPC members' overall production would drop little from 81 percent in 2023 to 79 percent in 2024 and 2025. This change is a result of higher production, especially in Laos and Côte d'Ivoire, which are becoming important players in the natural rubber market. 'Planting and re-export' is a new initiative by Chinese enterprises that is intended to greatly increase output in the Myanmar-Laos border region.

The association predicts that NR consumption will increase 1.8 percent year to 15.625 million tonnes. According to the monthly report, the updated demand forecasts for China and non-ANRPC members for three years in a row have an impact on this moderate rise. The anticipated 110 percent increase in demand to 122,000 tonnes by Cambodia, a significant location for new tyre projects in recent months, is especially noteworthy. Demand is expected to rise by 2.5 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, to 7.163 million tonnes and 1.5 million tonnes in China and India, the two largest NR users in the world, with 46 percent and 10 percent of the global market share.

 Natural rubber prices declined in March amid significant market volatility, according to the latest monthly report from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).

The industry body said in its Monthly NR Statistical Report for March 2025 that the downward trend was attributed to multiple factors, including the postponement of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), changes in US tariff policies, and falling oil prices.

Despite strong demand from China in early 2025, market sentiment was dampened by growing concerns over new US tariff measures, which analysts say could reshape global rubber trade flows.

The ANRPC, representing major producing nations including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, projected global natural rubber production to grow by a modest 0.4 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, global demand for natural rubber is forecast to increase by 1.5 percent this year, supported primarily by expansion in the electric vehicle market, according to data compiled from ANRPC member countries.

This growth comes despite concerns of a potential global economic slowdown and complications arising from new US trade policies that could hinder international trade.

Natural rubber, a critical raw material for tyre manufacturing and various industrial applications, has faced increasing price pressures as automotive production forecasts remain uncertain in key markets.

Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone Americas announced it has developed the industry’s first commercially available tyre containing 70 percent recycled and renewable materials, marking a significant breakthrough in sustainable manufacturing.

The demonstration commercial tyre, which will debut at the WasteExpo trade show, is based on the Bridgestone M870 model designed specifically for urban waste collection fleets. It has received ISCC PLUS certification, a globally recognised standard that validates sustainability throughout the supply chain.

Using a Mass Balance approach, the tyre incorporates circular synthetic rubber compounds, circular carbon black, and natural rubber. This method allows Bridgestone to track the quantity of alternative materials used in production.

“The debut of this 70 percent recycled and renewable demonstration tyre is not a glimpse into the future, but the reality of today,” said Steve Hoeft, President, Commercial Truck Group, Bridgestone Americas. “With this tyre and the work done with our supply chain, we’ve created new opportunities with a proven product by meeting the rigorous standards set by the ISCC. This tyre directly demonstrates how Bridgestone can help fleets achieve their sustainability goals now with expertly manufactured premium tyres."

According to the company, a limited production run will be tested on waste collection vehicles later this month.

New monitoring technology

Alongside announcing the sustainable tyre, Bridgestone also revealed a new drive-over system for fleet operators. The technology uses specialised plates to capture tread depth measurements as vehicles drive over them, providing comprehensive data on tyre condition and alerting operators to irregular wear issues.

The system aims to help fleet managers optimise maintenance schedules and extend tyre life through more informed decision-making.

Both innovations align with Bridgestone’s corporate E8 Commitment, which focuses on environmental sustainability and operational efficiency improvements.

Ecolomondo Corporation, a leading Canadian innovator in sustainable scrap tyre recycling technology, has announced that its new milling line at Hawkesbury facility has achieved a major milestone during recent testing by reaching a throughput of approximately 2,700 lbs per hour of recovered carbon black (rCB). This result surpasses the company’s projected target of 2,200 lbs per hour.

When the new milling line is completely operational, it should be able to process 2,200 pounds of rCB per hour and provide a particle size distribution of 96 percent between 10 and 15 microns. It is anticipated that the plant would process more than 1.5 million scrap tyres annually, recovering 1,350 MT of process gas while producing 4,500 MT of recovered carbon black, 5,400 MT of oil and 2,250 MT of steel.

The company expects the commercial production of rCB to start by the end of May 2025. After being contacted, offtake clients told the company that they were eagerly expecting a larger supply of steel, oil and rCB, said the company. Depending on end-product market pricing, the company's yearly income from the sale of these sustainable goods plus tipping fees of USD 145 per metric tonne is expected to reach USD 12.1 million, with an estimated EBITDA of 45 to 50 percent, added the company statement.

Jean-François Labbé, Interim CEO, Ecolomondo Corporation, said, “This is a major achievement that brings the Hawkesbury facility closer to full production and commercialisation.”

Global speciality chemicals company Orion S.A. has launched a new bio-circular carbon black called ECOLAR 50 POWDER to provide coatings manufacturers with a new solution for more sustainable coatings.

ECOLAR 50 POWDER, which is entirely based on bio-circular feedstock, has coloristic qualities that are on par with those of ordinary speciality carbon blacks and includes 100 percent biogenic raw material according to 14C analysis. The coloristic qualities of ECOLAR 50 POWDER, a low to medium colour furnace black, offer moderate tinting strength and medium jetness in mass tone applications. ECOLAR 50 POWDER offers equivalent coloristic performance for full-tone and tinting applications, as well as comparable wetting and dispersion characteristics to conventionally manufactured low-colour furnace blacks.

ECOLAR 50 POWDER outperformed other common specialist carbon blacks in achieving medium jetness in a solvent-borne alkyd/melamine stoving enamel system. It created a similar neutral undertone as well. When tested in a water-borne 1K PU coating system, ECOLAR 50 POWDER created a more neutral undertone and jetness that was on par with other regular speciality carbon blacks.

Tilo Lindner, Vice President Global Marketing – Speciality Carbon Black, Orion, said, “We’re leading the way in advancing carbon black to meet increasing industry demands for sustainable products. ECOLAR 50 POWDER enables coatings formulators to develop truly sustainable products in all kinds of coatings applications.”