JSR Corporation has been supplying an extensive range of products such as synthetic rubbers for car tyres, thermoplastic elastomers with the characteristics of both elastomers and plastics, and latex for paper coating. As part of its mid-term business plan “JSR20i9,” which started in April 2017, JSR Corporation is strengthening competitiveness for the future. It focuses on earnings drivers and profit expansion in SSBR, semiconductor materials and the Life Sciences Business.

The CASE mobility will influence the entire eco-system of the tyre industry. Requirements of tyres for the CASE mobility will be different from today, and raw material suppliers are now pushing themselves meet future demand. The tyres for the new mobility are expected to have high strength, wear resistance, with reduction of emissions. To meet these needs, the company used its proprietary synthesis technology to develop the new SBR with significantly improved mechanical strength compared to conventional SBR.  The new hydrogenated SSBR combines JSR’s unique polymerisation and hydrogenation technologies to control the number of unsaturated bonds in the material. “Through this process, it is possible to optimise the interactions among polymer molecules and minimise the stress produced in crosslinking. As a result, this new SBR has, not only approximately two times the mechanical strength of conventional SBR, but also exceeds the strength of natural rubber. Tyres using this new SBR as the tread compound rubber demonstrate more than 50 per cent better wear resistance along with low fuel consumption and grip performance compared to conventional SBR-equipped tyres,” said the company.

 “In the CASE, EV vehicle is heavier, that could also lead to higher abrasion that causes rubber microparticles pollution. This is the reason we are focusing on abrasion resistance in our polymer,’’ said Arai. Constant exposure to sunlight could reason for degradation of tyres, but the new hydrogenated SSBR prevents it, and also reduce the microplastic said Arai.

Being in production of synthetic rubber over 60 years, JSR Corporation has been a significant supplier of synthetic rubber solutions to global tyre companies.  Since JSR Corporation focuses on materials solutions, it has achieved a great deal of success with various tyres. JSR’s core technology is continuously improving polymerisation with its solid foundation of polymerisation technology, and the company’s polymer design already meets a wide variety of customer needs.

The company believes in speedy development and mass production. JSR works closely with its Tire Materials Technology Development Center at its Yokkaichi Plant to develop polymers, processes and establish mass-production technologies. It applies digital techniques for research and development and mass production technologies and utilises AI and big data to tackle improvements in speed and efficiency and achieve stable quality and mass production.  With technologically tailored solutions proposals, tyre manufacturers reduce tyre development time.

In the design and development analysis technologies, JSR uses its high-level analysis technologies to design and develop optimised materials tailored to each type of rubber compound.

Demand for low resistance tyres is growing by 10% every year, and JSR intends to cater to the demand with its functionalised SSBR solutions. According to Keisuke Miyoshi, managing director, JSR Elastomer Europe GmbH said, “The company provides the functionalised Solution SSBR that provides cutting edge technology and low rolling resistance. We plan to cater to the growing demand for low rolling resistance tyres across the globe. To cater to the growing demand for low rolling resistance tyres, the company has increased its production capacities of SSBR with plants in Japan, Thailand and Hungary.”

The total capacity of SSBR is around 220KT.

Being a supplier of a wide range of synthetic rubber solutions, JSR is into the production of a wide range of SSBR, from 1st generation to 5th generation. “Depending on the customer’s demand, we can supply different generation polymers,” said Miyoshi.

With its presence around the globe, JSR focuses on making products needed for the local requirement. The company runs a continuous product development programme based on its close communication with its customers globally.  “Japanese automakers are known for making fuel-efficient vehicles, and the same performance is also expected from tyre companies. While European automakers the required strong tyres, we leverage our technical expertise to make products suitable for the respective markets,” said Miyoshi.

JSR produces SSBR at three production sites, in Japan, Thailand and Hungary, which gives the company a unique logistical flexibility to support the global tyre industry. “We are the only synthetic rubber company which is spread globally in terms of synthetic rubber production and that gives us an edge over all our competitors. Customers may not find any difference in quality. Our strategic presence helps us to be more efficient in supplying products and service,” said Miyoshi

With six sales and technical offices in all major markets, the company promptly responds to tyre manufacturer requests timely

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The global natural rubber (NR) market experienced fluctuating prices in August 2025 as supply constraints coincided with signs of improving demand, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) said in its latest Monthly NR Statistical Report.

The association noted that seasonal factors supported stronger consumption, particularly in China, where declining port inventories signalled healthier demand. However, heavy rainfall and labour shortages in key producing regions curtailed tapping activities, tightening supply conditions.

“Natural rubber prices experienced a fluctuating trend due to several factors, including constrained supply and improving demand,” ANRPC said. “Seasonal factors boosted consumption, particularly in China, where inventory reductions at major ports indicated improved demand. However, rainfall and labour shortages in producing regions limited tapping activities, tightening supply.”

According to updated data from member countries, global natural rubber production is projected to increase by 0.5 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, while demand is expected to grow by 1.3 percent over the same period.

The association said market sentiment had turned “increasingly optimistic” with stronger purchasing interest, driven by the traditional peak season for natural rubber, especially from the all-steel tyre and heavy-duty truck segments.

The ANRPC encouraged subscribers and stakeholders seeking more in-depth insights to refer to the full report or contact the ANRPC Secretariat for subscription details.

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India has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of Halo-Isobutene-Isoprene Rubber (HIIR) from China, Singapore and the United States, following a complaint from Reliance Sibur Elastomers Private Limited, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) said in a notification.

The domestic producer alleged that the three countries were exporting the rubber to India at unfairly low prices, causing injury to the local industry. The company has sought the imposition of anti-dumping duties on the product, which is used in tyre inner liners, hoses, seals, tank linings, conveyor belts and protective clothing.

The DGTR said there was prima facie evidence that imports had risen “significantly” and were being sold below normal value, resulting in price depression and affecting the domestic manufacturer’s capacity utilisation and profitability. The authority noted that the dumping “is causing material injury to the domestic industry”.

The investigation will cover the period from July 2024 to June 2025, with an examination of injury trends dating back to April 2021.

HIIR, also known as halobutyl rubber, is classified under the broader synthetic rubber tariff category. Reliance Sibur Elastomers is currently the only producer of the material within India.

If the investigation confirms dumping and injury, the DGTR may recommend the imposition of duties to offset the impact and “remove the injury to the domestic industry”. Interested parties have 30 days to submit data and make their representations to the authority.

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The global carbon black market is projected to grow from USD 27.88 billion in 2024 to USD 44.77 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.85 percent between 2025 and 2034, according to a new report by Towards Chemical and Materials, a research arm of Precedence Research.

The study estimates that the global market volume will rise from around 15.15 million tonnes in 2025 to 21.83 million tonnes by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.14 percent, driven primarily by increasing demand for tyres, automotive components and high-performance plastics.

Carbon black – a fine black powder made through the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons – is a critical material used to reinforce rubber in tyre production and enhance strength, durability and UV resistance in plastics, coatings, and batteries.

Asia Pacific accounted for about 58 percent of global market share in 2024 and is expected to remain the largest and fastest-growing regional market, supported by expanding tyre and rubber manufacturing bases in China, India and Southeast Asia. The region’s carbon black market was valued at USD 16.95 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 26 billion by 2034.

“The Asia Pacific region continues to lead both in production and consumption of carbon black, owing to its strong automotive, tyre and plastics industries,” the report noted, adding that China remains the world’s largest producer and consumer.

The furnace black segment dominated the market in 2024, accounting for about 60 percent of global industry share, due to its superior reinforcing properties in tyres and versatility in plastics and coatings. Meanwhile, the tyres and rubber products segment held a 55 percent share, reflecting the material’s indispensable role in the automotive sector.

Performance applications such as batteries, conductive polymers, and specialty coatings are emerging as key growth drivers. Demand for specialty carbon black and conductive grades is rising with the proliferation of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and electronics manufacturing.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also shaping the carbon black industry, with automation and predictive analytics enhancing process efficiency, product consistency, and sustainability, the report said. AI-driven systems are enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance in production plants, reducing waste and energy consumption.

Sustainability remains a key trend, with manufacturers investing in greener technologies, renewable feedstocks and recovered carbon black (rCB) from recycled tyres to meet circular economy goals. “Turning end-of-life tyres and rubber waste into recycled carbon black is opening new sustainable pathways for producers,” the study noted.

Among key players profiled in the report are Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd., Continental Carbon, Jiangsu C-Chem Co., Ltd., Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd., Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy Company, Cancarb Limited, Philips Carbon Black Ltd., OCI Company Ltd., Columbian Chemicals Co. (Birla Carbon), Aditya Birla Group, and Raven SR, LLC.

Recent industry developments include PCBL Chemical Ltd.’s establishment of a wholly owned US subsidiary in Delaware in July 2025 to enhance supply chain localisation and strengthen its North American footprint, as well as the West Bengal government’s efforts to attract foreign investment in its carbon black industry to support the electric vehicle, tyre, and battery markets.

The report also forecasts rapid growth in North America, fuelled by clean manufacturing practices, sustainable process adoption and expansion in high-performance plastics and battery applications. Europe, meanwhile, is benefiting from stricter environmental regulations and the EU Green Deal, which are promoting eco-friendly and specialty grades.

The global carbon black market is expected to maintain steady long-term growth as manufacturers diversify into advanced applications and invest in sustainable production technologies to meet evolving industrial and environmental demands.

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine chemicals, has revealed a new strategic initiative for its Berre, France facility. The plan involves streamlining its polymer operations to concentrate exclusively on manufacturing USBC products, which will result in the cessation of HSBC production at that site.

This move is designed to bolster Kraton's long-term competitiveness by optimising its manufacturing footprint in reaction to a global overcapacity for HSBC. The company has formally started an information and consultation process with the local Works Councils, with a final decision expected following this mandatory period. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to supplying HSBC from its broader global network and to leveraging its worldwide presence to continue adapting to market demands.

Prakash Kolluri, President, Kraton Polymers, said, “Our aim with this plan is to strengthen Kraton’s long-term competitive position by optimising our manufacturing footprint in response to changing market dynamics associated with global overcapacity of HSBC production capability. With this step, we are preparing Kraton for a sustainable future by securing Kraton’s position as the leading global HSBC producer. Kraton is fully committed to supporting our customers through this transition with supply of HSBC products produced within our unmatched global manufacturing network. We recognise the impact of these actions, and are committed to a safe, respectful and supportive transition. The health, safety and well-being of the employees remain our top priorities.”

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