Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Enviro has noted a sharp increase of interest in purchasing the carbon black and oil that Enviro recovers from end-of-life tyres. The increased interest has been observed among old and new customers, but the company cannot yet assess what this will mean in terms of specific orders or supply agreements. 

Thomas Sörensson, CEO, Enviro, said, “The increase in interest entails that we will need to set priorities carefully, while it also confirms that we were wise not to be in a hurry to sign long-term supply agreements connected to our expansion plan.” 

According to a US market research company, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus produce a significant part of all carbon black used in Europe. At the same time, Europe wants to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and, because oil is a raw material used in carbon black production, this could also influence supply. 

Sörensson said, “Accordingly, the war is likely to have a major impact on the supply of carbon black in Europe and globally, and it is obvious that this is causing concern among tyre and rubber manufacturers that shortages will occur.” 

According to Thomas Sörensson, the increased interest was apparent more or less immediately after the Russian invasion. There has been a strong increase in the number of new and existing customers contacting Enviro to investigate the possibilities of receiving deliveries of carbon black from the company. 

Sörensson added, “Our expansion plan comprises the establishment of a total recycling capacity of 900,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres by 2030. At the heart of the implementation of the expansion plan is the establishment of long-term supply agreements for recovered materials and end-of-life tyres. The strong rise in interest means that we now need to set our priorities carefully.”  

Enviro said in a statement that it is currently unable to assess the implications of the increased interest for the company’s future development. The interest applies to both deliveries of carbon black and recovered oil, referred to as pyrolysis oil. Since the company is conducting several discussions with investors, contractors, and partners regarding the planned facility in Uddevalla, the company wants to be transparent towards the capital market about the way in which interest in the company’s recycling technology and recovered products has risen due to the war. 

“Interest has increased in a way that we could not have foreseen, and it is important that the market understands this, although we are currently unable to say anything more specific about what it will mean for our business,” Sörensson added. (MT)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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