GRP, an Indian rubber recycling company, reported a 20 percent year-over-year revenue growth for both Q3 and the first nine months of FY25, despite facing margin pressures from elevated raw material costs.

The company recorded total income of INR 1,327 million in Q3 FY25, with EBITDA margins holding steady at 9.8 percent. For the nine-month period, revenue reached INR 3,912 million, while EBITDA stood at INR 363 million.

"We achieved a 12 percent increase in volumes on a standalone basis, with Reclaim Rubber volumes growing nine percent despite subdued global tyre demand," said Harsh Gandhi, Managing Director of GRP Limited.

The company recognized INR 121 million in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) credits year-to-date, with an additional INR 180 million worth of credits valued at minimum support price still available for sale.

Expansion Plans

GRP is moving forward with its INR 2.5 billion expansion plan, having secured financing from French development finance institution Proparco. The company has also received shareholder approval to raise an additional INR 1.5 billion through a qualified institutional placement.

"We remain on track to commence operations for the first line of crumb rubber and continuous pyrolysis line by Q4 of this financial year," Gandhi stated, noting that INR 330 million has already been invested in the project.

Industry Developments

The expansion comes as major carbon black producers like Birla Carbon, Epsilon Carbon, and Phillips Carbon Black launch recovered carbon black products using tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO).

"With carbon black producers now actively sourcing TPO to produce their own grades of recovered carbon black, it allows us a new avenue for sale, which was maybe 6 to 8 months ago, was non-existent," Gandhi explained.

Future Outlook

The company expects margins to stabilize following recent raw material cost pressures, particularly in its synthetic rubber reclaim business. GRP's subsidiary focused on recycled polyolefins is gaining approvals from major brands ahead of new recycling regulations taking effect from April 2025.

"Once we do get into this business, there are a lot of synergies between the two businesses, and that will allow for the overall margin profile of the business to move towards mid-teens and even a little higher towards the high-teen EBITDA numbers for a consolidated level," Gandhi added.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive rally-tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, is all set to provide tyres for all competitors in the championship's dramatic 2025 season finale, Rally Saudi Arabia. Taking place from 25 to 29 November in the Jeddah region, this decisive event marks the WRC's inaugural visit to the country. The rally’s route, centred around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, comprises approximately 319 kilometres of competitive action across 17 special stages, presenting a completely new challenge for teams and drivers.

This new Middle Eastern challenge demands a tyre capable of mastering a vast spectrum of conditions. The stages combine long, fast desert sections with technically demanding rocky terrain, all subject to sharp temperature swings, blowing sand and unpredictable micro-climates. Hankook will equip the crews with its Dynapro R213, an extreme all-terrain rally tyre engineered specifically for such rough and unpaved surfaces. Available in Hard and Soft compounds, it features a robust casing and a specialised tread pattern to deliver stable grip, crisp steering response and reliable impact absorption at high speeds, all while managing heat buildup for consistent long-stage performance.

The rally also serves as the setting for the championship's climax. The Drivers' Championship will be settled in Jeddah, with Toyota GAZOO Racing's Sébastien Ogier having narrowed the gap to leader Elfyn Evans to just three points after his recent victory in Japan. This sets the stage for a final, high-stakes showdown where tyre strategy and durability will be as critical as outright speed, focusing the global motorsport world on the Saudi desert.

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Giti Tire has intensified its AdvanZtech EV Ready initiative with the introduction of the GitiWinterW2, a winter tyre engineered to perform on battery-electric vehicles, hybrids and traditional internal combustion engines. This new product, available for the 2025/26 winter season, is the first winter-specific offering within this specialised tyre line. The range is comprehensive, encompassing 17 different sizes to fit rims from 15 to 20 inches, making it suitable for a wide array of vehicles from the compact Fiat 500e to the Tesla Model 3 and popular SUVs like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo XC60 PHEV. Each tyre is marked with a distinct sidewall logo to guide consumers towards the correct application for their vehicle type.

The development of the GitiWinterW2 focused on achieving a balance of critical performance attributes. Engineers prioritised managing the high torque output of electric vehicles for superior control while simultaneously minimising rolling resistance to help extend driving range. This technical development was accomplished without sacrificing the essential safety and handling characteristics required for winter driving in snow and wet conditions. The manufacturer emphasises that the final product delivers a quiet, comfortable and secure driving experience.

This winter tyre joins the existing summer patterns, the GitiSportS2 and GitiSynergyH2, which were originally launched in August 2024 under the same AdvanZtech EV Ready strategy. All three tyre lines are the result of research and development conducted through Giti's global AdvanZtech system, with significant work carried out at their European Research & Development Centre located in Hannover, Germany.

Fabio Pecci-Boriani, Deputy General Manager – Product Planning PCR and LTR, Giti Tire R&D Centre (Europe), said, “The Giti brand was among the first in the mid-market to introduce an EV ready concept, ensuring maximum flexibility and product clarity for dealers and peace of mind for drivers. As is proven, winter can have an impact on the performance of part-electric and electric vehicles with lower temperatures reducing battery range and immediate torque levels being tricky on slippery roads; the Giti AdvanZtech EV ready GitiWinterW2 goes a long way to addressing these issues.”

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) is advocating for the creation of a dedicated ‘Industrial SMEs’ parliamentary circle. This proposal responds to the significant challenges faced by medium-sized industrial companies, which the association believes are frequently misjudged by political decision-makers. wdk President Michael Klein emphasised that a high-performance industrial middle tier exists in Germany, positioned between major corporations and small artisanal businesses. He argues that the critical role of these firms deserves greater recognition within parliamentary proceedings, and the proposed cross-party group would be an effective measure to achieve this.

The German rubber industry itself serves as a prime example of this vital sector. Its companies are often ‘hidden champions’, leading the global market in specialised niches and supplying indispensable products that underpin diverse areas of the economy. Despite this importance, medium-sized industrial enterprises consistently fall through the cracks of policy. Legislators in both Germany and Europe often demonstrate a lack of awareness regarding the specific capacities and limitations of these businesses, leading to disproportionate bureaucratic burdens.

A dedicated parliamentary circle would establish a direct channel for dialogue, allowing committed policymakers to engage with company representatives. This forum would provide valuable, ground-level insights and act as an essential political corrective. The wdk contends that such an initiative would not only provide much-needed support to the numerous medium-sized industries but would also strengthen the national economy as a whole.

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In response to significant economic pressures within the chemical industry, WACKER has initiated a comprehensive efficiency programme named PACE. The project, launched in October, is designed to secure substantial and permanent annual cost savings exceeding EUR 300 million. A primary focus will be on optimising fixed production costs and administrative structures.

To achieve this financial target, the company anticipates a reduction of more than 1,500 positions globally, with the majority of job cuts affecting its German sites. This workforce adjustment is expected to account for approximately half of the total savings. The company, which had previously forecast a net loss for 2025, intends to fully implement all PACE measures by the end of 2027. This strategic move aims to strengthen WACKER's operational resilience amid a challenging business climate.

Christian Hartel, President and CEO, WACKER, said, "We are currently working on measures to achieve our cost-saving targets. The aim is to reduce our costs to a competitive level through savings. This will put WACKER back on the road to success." Emphasising the need for competitive framework conditions, he added, "Particularly in Germany, the excessively high energy prices and bureaucratic obstacles continue to act as a central brake on the successful development of the chemical industry."

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