Global leading tyre company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has introduced its first EV summer tyre with ISCC PLUS certification (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) with the iON evo. 

The new tyre is derived from the Hankook iON Race tyre, which has been used exclusively on the vehicles competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since 2023 and consists of 45 percent sustainable raw materials. The new iON evo will come as OE fitment on the updated Porsche Taycan electric sports car. This the company claims are the first tyre in the premium vehicle manufacturer's original equipment range with this prestigious certification.

Klaus Krause, VP & Head of Europe Technical Center, Hankook said, “The ISCC PLUS-certified iON evo represents the culmination of our ambition to produce tyres that are truly more sustainable. We are also very proud that our European production plant in Hungary, where the iON evo is produced, is the second Hankook site worldwide to receive the coveted ISCC PLUS certification. The fact that Porsche has chosen the iON evo as original equipment for the new Taycan is of course a big vote of confidence for us. Thanks to our motorsport-proven technologies, the Hankook tyre with its increased sustainability and optimised rolling resistance makes a significant contribution to increasing the range of the high-performance electric sports car.” 

Sustainability at the core

Despite the high content of 45 percent sustainable materials, the developers at Hankook have said to succeed in increasing the iON evo’s sustainability without having to compromise on tyre safety and performance. The engineers used renewable and recycled materials that match the strength, flexibility, and durability of conventional tyre components. These include bio-based silica from grain waste, recycled PET textile cord from plastic waste, bio-circular synthetic rubber from bio-circular feedstocks, recycled carbon black from used tires, and even natural resin. The Hankook team responsible for the development of the tyre were also able to leverage the knowledge gained from Formula E, where a racing tyre with a high percentage of sustainable materials – the iON Race – is used.

The new iON evo with the ISCC PLUS logo on its sidewall is making its debut as original equipment for the Porsche Taycan in the dimensions 245/40 R21Y XL (FA) and 285/35 R21Y XL (RA). Like the other tyres in the iON family, this advanced development uses a tread mixture with plant-based oils. It not only makes the tread more sustainable overall, but also has a positive effect on the durability. For support during especially dynamic driving or sudden lane changes, the Hankook engineers also used reinforced material to increase the lateral stiffness. The engineers also benefited from knowledge gained in previous homologation processes for the premium manufacturer.

Increased range

Hankook states as with the other iON models, the new iON evo with ISCC PLUS certification offers greatly reduced rolling resistance compared to a conventional tyre, which increases the range per battery charge of the Porsche Taycan. 

Porsche itself states that up to 40km more can be possible thanks to the 21-inch aero wheel from Hankook. In addition, the Hankook iON products are particularly designed for the immediately available high torque produced by powerful electric vehicles. All in all, what this means for the electric car driver is more range per battery charge and a feeling of real safety and comfort when driving.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) published its Monthly Natural Rubber Statistical Report for August 2026, noting firmer prices in several markets. Supply constraints, stable downstream demand and persistent geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty shaped the month. Renewed conflict and disruptions to major shipping routes added further pressure.

Physical prices for major grades moved in different directions. SMR-20 in Kuala Lumpur averaged USD 2.31 per kg, up 4.25 percent from July, while STR-20 in Bangkok rose 1.40 percent to USD 2.39 per kg. RSS-3 dropped 4.18 percent to USD 2.80 per kg, but RSS-4 in Kottayam gained 0.57 percent to USD 2.92 per kg. Latex-in-bulk fell 4.73 percent to USD 1.73 per kg. Brent crude averaged USD 91.08 per barrel, driven by concerns over possible restrictions on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and wider Middle East instability, which raised energy supply risks and strengthened the oil market risk premium.

On trade, China's imports climbed 3.39 percent month-on-month, while India fell 10.18 percent and Malaysia dropped 8.24 percent; Viet Nam rose 5.08 percent. Exports advanced 5.63 percent in Viet Nam but declined in Thailand (-5.24 percent), Indonesia (-5.36 percent), Malaysia (-1.48 percent) and Cambodia (-1.88 percent).

Global production is projected to rise 0.6 percent to 15.039 million tons in 2026 from 14.952 million tonnes in 2025, after revisions to Thailand's 2025 output and updated 2026 estimates for Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Weather, including erratic rainfall and drier Southeast Asian conditions, affected output. August 2026 production was estimated at 1.396 million tonnes, down 4.51 percent from 1.462 million tonnes a year earlier. Demand is forecast to grow 0.4 percent to 15.356 million tonnes in 2026 from 15.301 million tonnes, with the largest consumption gains expected in China, Malaysia and Cambodia. Prospects depend on vehicle sales, tyre production, shipping conditions and weather-related supply disruptions, while steady EV-linked demand supported modest growth led by China and India. The ringgit traded between RM4.02 per USD and RM4.09 per USD, and the baht between 32.68 and 33.34. The SHFE January 2027 contract averaged 18,109 CNY per tonne, up 7.78 percent month-on-month, while the SGX November 2026 contract averaged USD 2.24 per kg, up 4.32 percent.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

HS HYOSUNG has formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State Government of San Luis Potosí, with the signing taking place at the World Trade Center Mexico City. The event formed part of the Korea-Mexico Business Forum, held alongside the Korean economic delegation's visit to Mexico.

Attending officials included Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's Secretary of Economy, and Mario García Valdez, Secretary of Economic Development of San Luis Potosí. The two sides confirmed their shared resolve to back the company's local investment and regional growth. Separately, HS HYOSUNG's leadership met bilaterally with Secretary Ebrard to elaborate on its strategic vision and investment plans.

The agreement sets out a phased expansion of HS HYOSUNG's investments in San Luis Potosí beginning in 2027, with the goal of creating a major advanced materials production hub that bolsters supply for North American and wider global markets. The company's advanced materials span tyre cord, a flagship world-leading product, along with mobility, energy, aerospace and defence applications. Its North American operations, spanning Mexico and the United States, turn out tyre cord, airbag materials and mobility interior components for global leaders such as General Motors and Goodyear, underpinned by a highly dependable global supply chain.

Nak-yang Sung, CEO, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS, said, “This investment goes beyond establishing a simple manufacturing base – it reflects our strategy to turn Mexico into a pivotal hub connecting North America with global supply networks. We are also committed to strengthening local supply chains and creating high-quality jobs to contribute directly to the region's industrial ecosystem.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kumho Petrochemical Group is steering its business towards research-driven, higher-value outputs as oversupply and soft demand continue to weigh on the worldwide petrochemical sector. The Seoul-based group outlined plans to boost spending on speciality chemicals, sustainable materials and novel production methods, a push intended to lift profits while building a foundation for future expansion.

Underlying the move is a deliberate evolution in the group's identity, from a bulk materials vendor to a provider of technology-backed solutions that address shifting customer requirements and stricter environmental rules. A central element of that effort involves widening the speciality lineup, exemplified by added capacity for solution styrene butadiene rubber, a synthetic rubber that enhances durability, rolling resistance and tread wear in high-performance electric vehicle tyres.

Environmental initiatives form another pillar. Facilities built by the company can trap approximately 76,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, while separately developed technology turns recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene sourced from scrapped household appliances into automotive-grade interior components that satisfy performance standards and generate fewer emissions than conventional methods. The group has also joined forces with POSCO Future M and BEI on anode-free lithium-metal battery development.

Parallel technology-focused programmes are underway at affiliated units. Kumho P&B Chemicals is formulating water-based epoxy resins that curb volatile organic compound releases while incorporating more bio-based inputs to reduce carbon intensity. Kumho Mitsui Chemicals is advancing bio-based polyurethane systems and electric vehicle materials, alongside debottlenecking work to add 100,000 tonnes of annual methylene diphenyl diisocyanate capacity. Kumho Polychem, meanwhile, is targeting ethylene propylene diene monomer through low-temperature polymerisation paired with energy-efficiency improvements.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Birla Carbon has confirmed a price increase of up to 15 percent for its Speciality Materials products across Asia, scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2026. The company pointed to significant and sustained rises in feedstock costs, driven partly by ongoing geopolitical instability and disruptions in global feedstock markets, as the reason behind the adjustment.

Although Birla Carbon pursued operational efficiencies, supply chain optimisation and disciplined cost management to soften the impact, the scale and persistence of the cost escalation left a price adjustment unavoidable. The company's sales teams will engage customers directly to explain the details and help them navigate the transition.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!