FGV Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd (FGVRISB), part of FGV Holdings Berhad, a Malaysia based agri business, has appointed Rubber Heart Ltd as a European and North American representative to market its range of natural rubber products in these regions.

The partnership between FGV Rubber Industries and UK-based Rubber Heart Ltd will involve the marketing and sales of its various grades of high-quality Technically Specified Rubbers and other specialty NR-based materials.

FGV Rubber Industries is one of Malaysia’s top Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) producers with four factories throughout the country. It is also the sole producer of quality Green Rubbers ENR25, ENR50 and DPNR in Malaysia.

Syed Mahdhar Syed Hussain is the Chief Operating Officer of FGV Holdings Berhad’s Plantation Sector. A scientist by training, he has worked in the rubber and plantation industries for 35 years and is an expert in quality and sustainability.

“FGVRISB prides itself in being one of the leading NR producers in Malaysia and our initiative to expand our customer base in Europe and North America requires a representative who knows our products” says Syed. “This is why we have chosen to work with Rubber Heart and its two Directors, Gail Reader and David Cawthra, who have years of experience working with Malaysian companies and more importantly, an in depth knowledge of the technical and sustainable merits of our Green Rubbers, ENR and DPNR”.

David Cawthra comments, “We are looking forward to embarking on this partnership with FGVRISB and continue our long-standing relationship with the rubber industry in Malaysia. We admire FGVRISB’s vision and ambition to be a global leader in natural rubber processing offering the highest quality products through good manufacturing and eco-friendly practices. We are excited to be part of the team to bring its Green Rubbers to new markets.”

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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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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for March 2026, revealing a market that turned external pressures into clear price gains. While February had hinted at shifting dynamics, March provided proof of the industry’s core strength, with prices rising across all major grades and trading hubs despite an unusually challenging global environment. A 3.4 percent drop in monthly output and a dramatic 42.51 percent spike in Brent crude prices allowed natural rubber to advance rather than retreat.

Benchmark grades recorded widespread increases. In Kuala Lumpur, SMR-20 reached an average of USD 2.04 per kilogramme, while Bangkok saw STR-20 climb to USD 2.20 and RSS-3 jump to USD 2.56 per kilogramme. Kottayam’s RSS-4 averaged USD 2.35, and centrifuged latex in Kuala Lumpur rose sharply to USD 1.72 per kilogramme. Futures markets echoed the trend, with Shanghai’s May contract averaging CNY 16,662 per tonne and Singapore’s June contract closing at USD 1.95 per kilogramme.

The supply situation tightened considerably. Global March production is forecast at 786,000 tonnes, with Thailand’s output falling to 164,000 tonnes as southern growing regions endured temperatures of 42 to 43 degrees Celsius and rainfall up to 69 percent below normal levels. These punishing conditions sent a clear message that the market can absorb demand without chaotic price swings, a sign of a maturing commodity sector.

Demand told a similarly positive story. China’s natural rubber consumption surged from 446,000 tonnes in February to 610,000 tonnes in March, supported by a manufacturing PMI of 50.4, a 74.4 percent monthly rise in vehicle output, and a 130 percent annual leap in new energy vehicle exports. Chinese imports jumped 39.03 percent month-on-month to 629,800 tonnes, while Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand boosted exports by 47.34 percent, 13.73 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.

The oil market further strengthened natural rubber’s competitive edge. With Brent crude averaging over USD 101 per barrel and peaking at USD 126.69 on 31 March, synthetic rubber became significantly less cost-effective, giving tyre makers a strong incentive to favour natural rubber. Policy moves also bolstered confidence, including Malaysia’s replanting aid increase to RM 20,000 per hectare and a new Indonesian research partnership on high-yield rubber tree genetics.

Looking ahead to the second quarter, the market enters the seasonal low-yield period with firming demand. New energy vehicle growth across Asia, an elevated oil floor, replanting investments and tightening supply all point to constructive pricing. Risks like trade disputes, weather extremes and geopolitical tensions remain, but March data shows an industry turning uncertainty into opportunity.

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