Circtec is building the world's largest chemical recycling plant for car tyres in Groningen. The company expects the new plant to be functional by the end of the summer.

The company already has plants in Poland and Germany where it recycles tyres on a smaller scale. The plant in Groningen will be the first large-scale facility with a capacity to process about 20 million (200,000 tonnes) waste tyres annually, which is six percent of all waste tyres in Europe each year.

The tyres are chemically deconstructed at high temperatures and broken down into tiny molecules that evaporate and mostly condense again as part of a process developed by Circtec to recycle car tyres. Following recycling, the different compounds found in tyres may be utilised as raw materials to make sustainable biofuel and new car tyres. The firm produces Naphtha from a portion of the rubber used in car tyres. This material has the potential to be utilised as a raw material for the manufacturing of plastic and synthetic rubber. Another portion of the rubber is used to make HUPA, a cutting-edge ship biofuel. Additionally, after recycling, the carbon may be used again.

According to Pieter ter Haar, Director – Sustainable Carbonaceous Materials, Circtec, some 3.5 million car tyres end up in Europe's waste every year and much of it is burned for cement production. In addition, many European tyres are shipped to India, so that the tyres can be burned and processed there without regard to the environment, public health or CO2 emissions. "We have a responsibility to make new raw materials and valuable products from our own waste products and not to pollute other parts of the world with our waste and its unregulated incineration," he said.

"We handle the recycling of tyres from the moment they come off a car to the production of the various new chemical products. That makes us unique from our competitors," Ter Haar said.

Asserting his determination to make an impact by making the chemical industry more sustainable, Ter Haar said, "With the new plant, we are contributing to both the energy and materials transition. The plant will offset about three percent of the Dutch chemical industry'sCO2 emissions."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has sounded an alarm over an exceptionally difficult economic situation facing the rubber sector. Soaring raw material prices and persistently high energy costs, exacerbated by the Iran war, are coinciding with weak industrial demand. wdk Chief economist Michael Berthel noted an almost unprecedented economic disparity, as raw material costs approach historical highs from 2011 and 2022 while a lack of demand prevents any offset for manufacturers.

Since the final quarter of 2025, prices for key inputs have risen sharply. Natural rubber has jumped more than 40 percent within months, while butadiene-based synthetic rubbers have increased over 30 percent. EPDM synthetic rubber, carbon black and oil-based plasticisers have all risen more than 20 percent, with some individual chemicals exceeding 40 percent cost growth in just a few weeks.

Energy prices remain a major burden, with Middle East developments fuelling market uncertainty. Risks to international transport and supply chains persist, and German rubber companies are closely watching potential impacts on raw material availability and global logistics flows.

Berthel warned that firms face mounting pressure from high costs, geopolitical instability and structural disadvantages in Germany, with no short-term relief in sight. The industry depends heavily on fair and reliable partnerships across the value chain, as processing companies alone cannot absorb the current strain. He called for fair solutions and a shared understanding of this exceptional situation.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Rubber Board of India has confirmed the continuation of all existing central sector schemes for the 2026-27 fiscal year at unchanged rates. Financial aid for new planting will be restricted to estates utilising poly bag or root trainer plants sourced solely from Board-approved nurseries, with applicants required to submit the original purchase bill. This mandatory verification step aims to ensure quality and authenticity of planting materials used across the sector.

Support for rain guarding and spraying operations will be channelled exclusively through Rubber Producers’ Societies. These societies must include GST bills for all acquired materials when applying. The official timeline for submitting applications will be announced separately by the Board, giving producers adequate time to prepare documentation and coordinate with their respective societies before the deadline.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Rubber Board of India has announced a temporary engagement for a young professional within its Market Promotion Division, located at the RRII campus in Puthuppally, Kottayam. The selected individual will assist with division activities and promote ‘mRube’, the electronic trading platform for natural rubber.

Candidates must hold an MBA in Marketing or Agri Business Management with computer knowledge, while skills in digital marketing, sales or market research and proficiency in English and Hindi are preferred. Applicants aged up to 30 years as of 1 May 2026, will be considered for the one-year role, which offers a consolidated monthly pay of INR 25,000.

Interested individuals should send their applications to the Deputy Director (Marketing) at the Central Laboratory Building, RRII, Rubber Board PO, Kottayam – 686009 by 19 May 2026. Shortlisted names will appear on the Rubber Board’s website with interview details, as no separate communication will be sent.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bekaert has officially finalised its acquisition of Bridgestone’s tyre reinforcement operations in China and Thailand, after securing all necessary regulatory approvals and meeting standard closing conditions. The deal, now fully completed, marks a significant step in the Belgian company’s expansion strategy.

The transaction brings under Bekaert’s control two production facilities: Bridgestone (Shenyang) Steel Cord Co., Ltd. in China and Bridgestone Metalfa (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand. These plants specialise in manufacturing high-quality tyre cord products exclusively for Bridgestone tyres, and they will continue to supply Bridgestone under the new ownership, further deepening the longstanding partnership between the two firms.

Financially, the acquisition is expected to add roughly EUR 80 million to Bekaert’s annual consolidated sales. The EUR 60 million cash consideration for the deal was funded from the company’s available cash reserves.

Curd Vandekerckhove, CEO Rubber Reinforcement, said, “With the completion of this acquisition within our Rubber Reinforcement division, we are pleased to officially welcome the plant teams in China and Thailand to Bekaert. Our immediate focus is on a smooth transition and operational continuity while continuing to serve Bridgestone as a key strategic partner. The completion of the acquisition further strengthens the position of Bekaert in the tyre cord market, expands the global manufacturing footprint and deepens our longstanding partnership with Bridgestone. A long-term supply agreement ensures continued delivery of high-quality tyre reinforcement within a trusted supplier model.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!