Apollo Tyres Ltd. reported a five percent year-over-year increase in revenue from operations for Q3 FY25, reaching INR69.28 billion. However, the company’s net profit declined 32 percent to INR 3.37 billion, down from INR 4.97 billion in the same period last year, as rising raw material costs squeezed margins.

For the nine-month period ending 31 December 2024, Apollo Tyres recorded a three percent revenue increase, closing at 197 billion. Net profit for the period fell 32 percent to INR 9.37 billion, compared to INR 13. 68 billion in 9M FY24.

Operating profit for Q3 FY25 stood at INR 9.47 billion, down from INR 12.08 billion a year earlier, reflecting higher input costs. The nine-month operating profit also declined, closing at INR 2734  billion, compared to INR 34.19 billion in 9M FY24.

“Under tough market conditions, we have been able to perform well in the key passenger and commercial vehicle replacement segments in India,” said Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo Tyres. “This performance was somewhat negated by the sluggish OE segment. Europe too, has performed in line with the market. While the third quarter witnessed an increase in raw material prices, impacting our margins, we see a flattish trend in the current quarter.”

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Nokian Tyres will withdraw its sponsorship of the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship should Russia be permitted to compete, the company has confirmed. The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that cleared Russian national teams to return to international ice hockey. Nokian Tyres stated that continuing the sponsorship under such circumstances would conflict with its values. Tiina Frazer, SVP of Brand, Marketing and Communications, explained that while the 2026 tournament cooperation proved highly successful, the company felt compelled to act on its principles regarding Russian participation.

The tyre manufacturer had been named an Official Sponsor for both the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in late 2025. Its 2026 involvement included the ‘Carve the Corners’ contest, running from 6 February to 20 March, which offered fans in the United States and Canada a chance to win a trip to the tournament. The 2026 event, held from 15 to 31 May, featured 64 games with 16 top national teams competing for the title and stands as the world’s largest annual winter sports event.

Frazer said, “Our sponsorship agreement with the IIHF covers the 2026 and 2027 World Championships, and our cooperation around the 2026 tournament was very successful. However, under the current circumstances, continuing the sponsorship if Russia participates would not be aligned with our values. We have therefore decided to end our sponsorship of the 2027 World Championship should Russia be allowed to take part.”

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), the world's largest fully integrated natural rubber company, has been honoured at the Intelligent Industry Awards 2026, an accolade bestowed by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The award was formally received on 30 October 2026 at Bangkok's S31 Sukhumvit Hotel by Executive Director Vitchaphol Sincharoenkul, accompanied by Akarat Mattayangkul, Factory Manager of the Huai Nang Branch, and Poowanart Laoprasert, Factory Manager of the Loei Branch.

Three of the company's production sites earned recognition under the award. The Loei and Huai Nang branches in Trang Province were cited for their technically specified rubber (TSR) operations, while the Kanchanadit Branch in Surat Thani Province was acknowledged for latex production. Evaluators placed weight on technology deployments that yield demonstrable outcomes, alongside sustained organisational development spanning operational processes, personnel, energy and sustainability.

Research and development form a central pillar of STA's strategy, merging its natural rubber know-how with digital tools and artificial intelligence. Among its flagship efforts is the Sri Trang AI Machine (SAM), which harnesses AI to bolster analysis and decision-making in production. The company also runs an ‘AI Clinic’ that invites staff from every department to pitch ideas, exchange experiences and obtain expert advice on embedding AI in routine tasks, thereby streamlining workflows, aiding decisions and lifting operational efficiency while nurturing a culture of technological learning.

The accolade underscores STA's drive towards Industry 4.0 through digital adoption, automation, innovation, workforce development and prudent resource management. It represents a further milestone in Sri Trang Group's evolution, reinforcing its emphasis on technology, people and resource efficiency as it continues to champion the sustainable development of Thailand's rubber sector.

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Professor James Busfield of Queen Mary University of London has been awarded the prestigious IRCO Medal by the International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO) in recognition of his longstanding contribution to international rubber conferences. The honour was presented by IRCO Executive Chairman Michael Clayton at IRC 2026 in Aichi, Japan, immediately before Busfield delivered his plenary lecture. The IRCO Committee unanimously approved the award at its meeting in Bangkok on 2 December 2025.

His involvement with the organisation spans more than a decade, having represented the United Kingdom on the IRCO Committee since 2013. He chaired and organised IRC 2019 in London, attracting 550 delegates, and led the organisation of RubberCon events in Manchester in 2014 and Edinburgh in 2023, the latter welcoming over 310 participants from 26 countries. A frequent plenary and keynote speaker, he also regularly involves postgraduate students in these international gatherings, providing opportunities to showcase their research and build professional connections.

Left to right: Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO; Professor James Busfield, Queen Mary University of London; and Professor Mikihito Takenaka, Congress Chair of IRC2026 AICHI and Professor at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University.

Beyond his international conference work, Busfield has headed the Elastomer Group at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) since 1995. Under his leadership, the group has delivered more than 100 meetings and conferences for the rubber sector while introducing hybrid events to expand global accessibility. At Queen Mary, he serves as Professor of Materials, National Teaching Fellow, Deputy Head of School and Head of the UK's largest soft matter research group. His career began in automotive suspension engineering before he completed his doctorate under Professor Alan Thomas.

Busfield's research encompasses rubber friction, fatigue, fracture, recycling and smart materials, supported by more than 190 peer-reviewed publications and industrial collaborations with Bridgestone, Continental, Aston Martin F1 and Schlumberger. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020, he has also received the Colwyn Medal (2009), the American Chemical Society Rubber Division's George Stafford Whitby Award (2021) and the IOM3 T B Marsden Medal (2024).

Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO, said, “James never travels alone. At every conference he brings his students, and gives them the chance to present, to meet people and to begin their careers in our industry. He is incredibly generous with his time, and one of our industry's most engaging speakers. Professor Busfield is an incredibly worthy recipient of the IRCO Medal.”

Professor James Busfield said, “It is a great honour to receive the IRCO Medal. IRCO has coordinated the International Rubber Conference and RubberCon events for about 60 years, and I have been fortunate to have been a part of that community for about half of that time. I enjoy greatly participating in these conferences and value the opportunity to meet the global rubber experts, discuss with them new innovations and together help to move the discipline and our industry forward. My thanks are extended to all of those from the global rubber community who have worked to make our IRCO events so successful.”

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Hankook Tire is set to exhibit at the 2026 SEMA Show, the leading annual gathering for aftermarket automotive manufacturers, scheduled for 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company’s display at Booth #80021 in the Silver Lot will feature a broad selection from its Dynapro line, a brand focused on SUVs and light trucks, alongside a rally car from the FIA World Rally Championship.

The Dynapro showcase will include four products: the mud-terrain Dynapro MT2, the rugged-terrain Dynapro XT, the all-terrain Dynapro AT2 Xtreme and the highway-terrain Dynapro HT2. These will be presented together with customised off-road vehicles and the WRC rally car, underscoring the company’s engineering capabilities across varied driving conditions.

Two customised vehicles will demonstrate the lineup’s versatility: the TRAILFINDER Nissan Xterra, previously called Project X, fitted with Dynapro AT2 Xtreme tyres, and the Donut Media Baja Bug equipped with Dynapro MT2 tyres. These builds illustrate Dynapro’s performance across different off-road environments while reinforcing Hankook’s ties to SUV and off-road communities in North America. Donut Media hosts Justin Freeman and Adam Knapik will appear at the booth on 4 November from 11 AM to 4 PM to meet visitors and discuss the Baja Bug build and the NORA 500 event.

A WRC rally car equipped with Dynapro R213 competition tyres will also be on display. Engineered for gravel rally conditions, the R213 offers grip, handling stability, and durability on unpaved surfaces, highlighting Hankook’s specialised tyre development in high-performance motorsports. The company continues to build its premium presence in North America through events such as SEMA and Overland Expo, and aims to strengthen its position in the global SUV and light truck tyre market by leveraging technologies and expertise gained from motorsports and demanding driving environments.

Aaron Hong, Vice President – Marketing, Hankook Tire America Corp, said, "SEMA continues to provide an important opportunity for Hankook to connect with the automotive aftermarket and demonstrate our commitment to innovation and performance. From the technical demands of WRC competition to the diverse needs of SUV and light truck drivers, our Dynapro portfolio reflects the depth of our tyre engineering expertise. We're excited to showcase our products alongside an impressive collection of vehicles that highlight our continued focus on performance, versatility and engagement with the enthusiast community."

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