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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WESTLAKE wrapped up its participation at IAA Transportation 2026 in partnership with Interpneu and Pneuhage Fleet Solution, using the event to highlight its newest Gen II commercial truck tyre advances. The brand’s presence at Hall 12, Booth B66 centred on four newly introduced products: the WSL2 steer tyre, WDL2+ drive tyre, WTL2 wide-base trailer tyre and WTR PRO trailer tyre. Each was available to order during the exhibition, underscoring two priorities for European fleets, namely reduced rolling resistance and improved mileage.

Over the course of the show, WESTLAKE representatives engaged with fleet customers, distributors and industry partners on subjects including tyre performance, operating efficiency and shifting fleet requirements. The booth’s theme, ‘Strong Service. Strong Network.’, embodied the company’s intention to collaborate closely with customers and partners so that stronger service support can be delivered throughout Europe. Availability, service and a robust local network were likewise shown to matter alongside tyre performance itself.

Central to the display was the Long Run range, made up of the WSL2, WDL2+ and WTL2 for steer, drive and trailer axle positions in long-haul work. Both the WSL2 and WDL2+ have now secured EU Tyre Label Class A for rolling resistance, sharpening the range’s fuel-efficiency emphasis while preserving mileage and operational capability. The WSL2 targets stable handling and high mileage, the WDL2+ blends mileage, traction and efficiency for drive axles, and the WTL2 wide-base trailer tyre prioritises fuel efficiency, stability and wet-road performance.

The newly launched WTR PRO trailer tyre was also featured, signalling the high-mileage direction of the PRO series for applications where mileage and wear matter most. It employs a wider tread, greater pattern saturation and a wear-resistant tread compound to encourage longer mileage and more even wear. Beyond the four new products, WESTLAKE exhibited selected Gen II commercial tyres and outlined its ‘Our Green Way’ approach, offering a wider view of the portfolio and its efficiency and sustainable transport aims. The company will keep developing its Gen II portfolio around practical fleet needs while reinforcing its regional product and service offering.

Leo Liao, General Manager, ZC Rubber Europe, said, “IAA Transportation is always an important opportunity for us to meet customers and partners across Europe and understand what is changing in their daily operations. This year, many of the conversations came back to the same priorities: fuel efficiency, mileage and operating costs. Our new Long Run and PRO products are developed around these needs, with each range focusing on different priorities while still delivering balanced overall performance. We will continue working with our partners to strengthen the WESTLAKE offering in Europe.”

Robin Brucke, Head – Commercial Product Group Management, Pneuhage Management GmbH & Co. KG, said, “For fleets, tyre performance is the foundation of efficient operation, but long-term value also depends on availability, service and a reliable network behind the product. Our cooperation with ZC Rubber and WESTLAKE has developed over many years, with products and services evolving together around the needs of the market. The new Gen II range continues that journey and gives us a strong platform to support fleets across Europe.”

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Bridgestone has celebrated a landmark achievement in the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), the world’s leading endurance motorcycle racing series. The BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM captured the title riding Bridgestone’s BATTLAX premium tyres, becoming the first European manufacturer ever to secure the championship. It also marked the seventh overall and sixth straight year that a Bridgestone-equipped team has claimed the EWC crown.

The Japanese tyre maker’s presence in the series dates back to 2017, when it began supporting full-season entrants with BATTLAX tyre engineered for grip, durability and predictable handling. In 2026, Bridgestone supplied 7 of the 17 full-season EWC class entrants. Its teams delivered a historic sweep, locking out the top five championship positions and, for the first time, claiming every podium place at each round.

The season tested tyres across extremes, from the cold opening 24 Hours Motos at Le Mans and variable weather at the 8 Hours of Spa Motos to rain and unseasonable cool at Suzuka and high heat and speed at the Bol d’Or finale. BATTLAX maintained consistent performance throughout, extending Bridgestone’s winning run to sixteen consecutive EWC races across four seasons.

Werner Daemen, Manager – BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM, said, "We are extremely proud to have achieved the world championship! Two years ago, we had the opportunity to work with Bridgestone, and to be honest, this was one of the keys to our victory. We are truly proud to work with such a professional company, and together with BMW, our team, and Bridgestone, we achieved this championship. We will definitely be back, and next year in Japan at Suzuka, we hope not to go for third place, but for first, and to compete again for the world championship. I want to thank everyone at Bridgestone – engineers, marketing, operations and all the people we have worked with. I hope to see you again next year. Thank you!"

Hiroshi Imai, Executive Officer, CPO (Chief Product Officer), Bridgestone Corporation, said, "First of all, I would like to send my congratulations to everyone at the BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM on winning the series championship! Also, I extend my sincere gratitude to all the fans who supported the races, every team that competed throughout the EWC season, event staff and everyone involved in organising the series, including FIM and the promoter EMP. With dramatically different conditions at each race, the BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM demonstrated outstanding adaptability and unity, delivering truly champion-worthy performances and inspiring fans around the world. We are also proud that, in the extreme challenge of EWC, we were able to work as one Bridgestone team to support these teams by providing BATTLAX tyres to maximise rider and machine performance. We will continue to refine our technologies at the racetrack and strive to develop and supply even higher-quality, higher-performance tyres so that, as a member of our partner teams, we can contribute to victory from the ground up."

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Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) threw its support behind Japan Festival Houston 2026, joining the weekend-long cultural showcase as both a sponsor and an active participant. The event served as a bridge between the company's Japanese origins and the Houston community it calls home.

Organised by the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH), the two-day celebration gave visitors a window into Japanese culture. Attendees explored traditional and contemporary art, enjoyed live performances and authentic food, took part in family-oriented activities and browsed vendors selling Japanese merchandise and handcrafted items. The festival returns each year to honour Japanese culture in Houston while deepening ties between Japan and the United States.

KAI contributed as an Entertainment Underwriter sponsor, helping fund programming that made a weekend devoted to cultural connection, learning and community involvement possible. The occasion carried extra weight given that Kuraray reaches its 100th anniversary in 2026. Launched in Kurashiki, Japan, in 1926, the company evolved into a worldwide specialty chemical enterprise without losing its deep Japanese roots. For KAI's Houston-based employees, the festival became a way to honour that background and encourage cultural understanding close to home.

Over the course of the weekend, 21 KAI employees donated their time across various shifts, pitching in from Saturday morning until Sunday evening. Such involvement mirrors Kuraray America's wider dedication to supporting the communities where its workers reside and labour, and the company has backed the festival as a sponsor for several years running. KAI thanked every employee who volunteered, along with JASH for continuing to unite Houston through culture, education and meaningful interpersonal exchange, and offered particular gratitude to Mieko Davidson, Reiko Fuwa and Tomo Tani for their efforts.

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BKT has opened a 10,000 sq ft distribution facility in Sankagiri, Tamil Nadu, as the Indian tyre maker seeks to strengthen its position in the commercial vehicle radial segment in a key freight corridor.

The site, operated by authorised distributor Sri Jayanthi Roadways, is intended to improve product availability across eight markets — Salem, Sankagiri, Namakkal, Erode, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Karur — while enabling closer engagement with fleet operators and dealers.

Tamil Nadu is one of India’s largest industrial and logistics centres, with extensive road infrastructure and high freight movement. The company said these factors make the state a strategic market for commercial vehicle tyres.

Sankagiri, a major trucking hub linking Salem, Coimbatore and Kerala, has been selected to support distribution across southern India. The facility is expected to serve as a point of contact for fleet operators and channel partners, strengthening the group’s regional presence.

The opening was accompanied by a partner event attended by dealers, fleet operators and regional transport representatives. A flag-off ceremony for seven commercial vehicles fitted with BKT tyres was also held.

Representatives present included Satish Sharma, Senior President and Director for Business Development and Strategy at BKT, and Amitkumar Agarwal, National Sales Head for Commercial Vehicle Radial Tyres at BKT. Local industry figures, including N R S (a) N Kandhasamy of the Sankagiri Lorry Owners Association and P Shanmugam of the Sankagiri Taluk Bus Owners Association, also attended.

Agarwal said: “Tamil Nadu is one of BKT Tyres priority growth markets for the commercial vehicle tyre segment, given its strong transport ecosystem, developed infrastructure and mature fleet operator base. As we continue to expand our on-highway business in India, strengthening our presence in key freight and logistics hubs is critical to building closer relationships with customers and improving access to our products.

“Sankagiri's strategic location and deep-rooted transport community make it an important market for our growth ambitions in the region. Through our partnership with Sri Jayanthi Roadways, which brings over four decades of industry experience, we are creating a stronger platform to serve fleet operators, transporters and channel partners. This facility is an important step in our commitment to building a robust distribution network and expanding BKT Tyres commercial vehicle tyre footprint across South India.”

The move comes as the company expands its commercial vehicle radial portfolio in India, targeting demand from the country’s transport sector.

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