The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., held a seminar in association with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) in December 2024 to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber.

The event involved fifty agricultural households from the Surat Thani region. The participants gained a deeper comprehension of the selection and planting of natural rubber seedlings, the purpose and impact of fertiliser application and the significance of keeping foreign materials out of natural rubber. Additionally, fertiliser created using RAOT's specialised knowledge was given to each participating family. For a year, the farmers who attended the seminar will submit rubber samples to Y.T. Rubber's programme, which tracks changes in the physical characteristics of natural rubber as a result of fertiliser usage or lack thereof and the effects of seasonal variations on trees chosen for the survey. Yokohama Rubber's ongoing involvement in this seminar event, which has already taken place eight times since 2020, is deeply appreciated by RAOT.

Yokohama Rubber and RAOT signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in January 2020 to work together to help Thai natural rubber producers financially and to enhance traceability to guarantee the natural rubber supply chain's transparency and stability. Yokohama Rubber's ‘Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber’ serves as the foundation for the MOU and the activities that fall under it.

In September 2021, Yokohama Rubber, a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), updated its ‘Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber’ and is stepping up its cooperation with GPSNR initiatives. The Procurement Policy's ‘Support for suppliers, including small-scale farmers and other parties involved in the supply chain’ premise is reflected in the recent seminar event in Thailand. Additionally, Yokohama Rubber is working to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the UN has approved. The Yokohama Rubber Group is encouraging the purchase of sustainable raw materials, such as natural rubber, as part of these initiatives.

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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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