After the completion of a reorganisation process, Nynas, a Swedish manufacturer of speciality naphthenic oils and bitumen products, aims at increasing its market share globally with the continuous focus on its core business. Now the company has a strong balance sheet with a 5-year secured financing.  Bo Askvik, Nynas President & CEO, in an interview with Sharad Matade, said, “We have long-term financing in place, giving us the necessary financing to build volumes and increase sales turnover. With the current financial position, we are now focusing on taking back market share across all our different segments and businesses. The reorganisation also required us to focus on the things we were managing and better control the business.  We are now back in the normalised operational mode that enables us to focus on supply reliability.” He also shared his view on opportunities in new mobility and lowering the supply of Group I base oils.

Last year was a challenging year for Nynas. The company went through a reorganisation process amid pandemic challenges. In January this year, the reorganisation was formally completed. Recalling last year’s challenges, Bo Askvik, Nynas President & CEO, said, “Like many other industries, we were impacted by the slowdown due to the global pandemic. The reorganisation process which was in place all of last year restricted our possibilities of supply somewhat. But we managed to maintain most supplies for our customers and operations during the last year.”

Surprisingly, Nynas managed to do better- than -the industry in 2020. The tyre oil industry, as per a report, had a volume loss of around 14 percent across all segments, whereas the company’s sales were down by six and a half percent in the comparable geographic regions. In the Asian region, Nynas managed to maintain its 2019 sales level, while sales in central Eastern Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa witnessed an uptick.

Askvik said, however, though Nynas may not witness sales of the pre-pandemic levels this year, the company, with its long-term business plans, will continue to focus on its core products to support the growth of the industry.

Nynas AB is a Swedish manufacturer of specialty naphthenic oils and bitumen products. It produces bitumen for paving and industrial applications, transformer oils, base oils, process oils, and tyre and rubber oils. The company has three refineries under its own management – in Nynäshamn and Gothenburg in Sweden, and in Harburg Germany and a bitumen refinery in the UK operated as a 50/50 joint venture between Nynas and Shell, as well as application labs for bitumen, greases, adhesives, rubber and the electrical industry.

In 2017, the US imposed sanctions on Nynas, and additional sanctions in 2019 restricted the company to procure heavy crude oil from Venezuela. Nynas applied for company reorganisation on December 13, 2019, after its banks did not extend the loans. The US lifted sanctions on Nynas AB in May 2020 after the ownership restructuring, which resulted in Petróleos de Venezuela SA’s stake reducing from 50 percent to 15 percent.  An independent Swedish foundation now controls the divested stake.

The reorganisation somehow proved to be a boon for Nynas. The Swedish company is now no longer restricted by the reorganisation regulations and can again hedge oil prices and currency exposures. The company reached a composition agreement with the creditors resulting in a 5-year secured financing and a strong balance sheet. The company has already obtained the necessary permits from the authorities needed for running new feedstocks, which secure supply.

“Now we have a solid balance sheet, much stronger than what Nynas had for many years. We have long-term financing in place, giving us the necessary financing to build volumes and increase sales turnover. With the current financial position, we are now focusing on taking back market share across all our different segments and businesses. The reorganisation also enabled us to focus on the things we were managing and better control the business.  We are now back in the normalised operational mode that enables us to focus on supply reliability. And that’s what customers are looking for. Now we have the same challenges the industry is facing at large, which is COVID-19,” said Askvik.

Despite the challenging time, Nynas remained aggressive on product launches to cater to its customers and markets worldwide. Askvik added, “We launched a series of new products, including the biobased products, and improved our existing products. So, we never lost our focus on developing the business.”

Askvik attributes the successful reorganisation to the company brand, loyal customers, and employees.

Disruptions in shipments is also another major challenge for any company in the current circumstance. Shipment durations have gone up with increasing costs. However, Nynas has always been at the forefront to have a superior supply chain worldwide to serve its customers. Currently, it has 44 depots globally, of which Antwerp, Houston and Singapore are central storage facilities and blending stations. “We have a firm base in the supply chain structure. We focus on how we can be most efficient and maximise shipments to reduce costs per tonne,” said Askvik.

Growing demand for technical higher refined base oils and increasing production cost are accelerating the closure of traditional Group I plants. In 2011, Group I represented about 57% of base oil production capacity, which had dropped to 37% in 2019. However, for tyre  applications, highly refined paraffinic Group II and III oils cannot substitute Group I and it´s derivatives due to limitations in viscosity range and chemical composition differences. “Naphthenic oils provide the solvency and polymer compatibility that group II and group III base oil cannot provide,” explained Askvik. “We always look at bringing value to the tyre and rubber applications”.

The Nynas executive sees that the faster-than-expected adoption of electrification will bring more business opportunities to the company. Though the number of rubber and oil products will reduce in EVs, Nynas bets on its solutions for lubricating greases and metalworking fluids for the different parts in the EVs. “We see a balanced substitution in the electrification of vehicles. Of course, electric vehicles will still be needing tyres for the foreseeable future. Apart from that, we must bear in mind that there are two types of batteries in electric vehicles. You still have a starter battery of the ICE vehicles in the electric vehicles. Where again, our naphthenic oils are an excellent tool to control both, the production as well as the properties of the isolating membranes used in that type of batteries,” said Askvik.

Increasing demand for lower rolling resistance in tyres, which leads to improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emission, for ICE-driven engine vehicles will extend to electric vehicles as well, said Askvik. “Another element where we have good offering is when it comes to winter performance. That’s a core value of all our products with their performance in lower temperatures.”

To meet the demand for non-mineral oil-based products, Nynas introduced NYTEX BIO 6200, the company’s first tyre and rubber process oil to be produced using renewable feedstock to support its customers reaching their sustainability goals without sacrificing critical technical properties. “When we developed this bio-based tyre oil, we did not want to compromise on the things that Nynas stands for, and that are quality, consistency and performance. We are, I think, one of the few truly global tyre oil suppliers that understand the requirement for consistent quality. NYTEX BIO 6200 is a product that combines all the key benefits of naphthenic oil with low rolling resistance and the winter performance with the bio base component,” explained Askvik.

In the future, Nynas will continue to focus on sustainable products and regulatory demand for safe tyre oils and substitution for Group I oil products. Region-wise, Askvik bets high on the APAC region, a hub of tyre and vehicle manufacturing. “ For us, we will continue to focus on product development to launch new products and increase the performance of our existing products.  We are into niche segment whereas, for our competitors, tyre oils and bitumen are very small part of their business. We offer the customer our technical competence and help them improve their products and we consider this as both challenges and opportunities.” (TT)

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TyreSafe has entered a new partnership with Staffordshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration aims to highlight the critical role tyres play in protecting road users by encouraging simple, regular checks of pressure, tread depth and overall condition.

The value of this preventative approach was recently demonstrated during a multi-agency enforcement operation at the DVSA Vehicle Inspection Site in Doxey. Held on 25 August, Operation Doxey involved Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Police, DVSA, Datatag, the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit and TyreSafe. Inspectors directed 30 vehicles into the site, covering leisure vehicles, towing vehicles, light commercial vehicles and goods vehicles.

Seven tyre and wheel-related defects, mechanical risks and pressure discrepancies were identified. These included a tyre cut through to the cord, which received an immediate prohibition notice, a tyre running roughly 30 percent below recommended pressure, an overweight light commercial vehicle with a nail embedded in a tyre and all four tyres underinflated, a significant rear axle pressure imbalance, a missing wheel nut and an 11-year-old tyre. Leisure vehicle owners generally showed good tread awareness, though pressure maintenance remained an issue, while commercial vehicles presented several preventable defects.

Staffordshire has one of UK’s statistically safest road networks, yet serious collisions remain a concern, particularly on single carriageways. Rural bends, changing speed limits and limited visibility add risk, while motorcyclists and vulnerable road users are disproportionately affected. Common factors include failing to look properly, misjudging speed or path and driving too fast or carelessly. TyreSafe now works with over 260 organisations, and this partnership encourages Staffordshire motorists to make tyre checks routine.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome Staffordshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. While Staffordshire has a strong road safety record, every serious collision has potentially devastating consequences for those involved, their families and their communities. The recent Operation Doxey enforcement activity demonstrates exactly why preventative vehicle maintenance matters. Across just 30 vehicles, inspectors identified a number of serious tyre and wheel defects, including a tyre cut to the cord, significantly incorrect tyre pressures, an embedded nail, a missing wheel nut and a tyre that was 11 years old.

“These findings are a powerful reminder that problems are not always obvious from behind the wheel. Simple checks before a journey can help identify issues before they become a danger on the road. Different roads present different challenges, particularly rural and single carriageway roads where the consequences of losing control or being unable to stop safely can be especially severe. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of Staffordshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Police Sergeant Adam Van de Sande, Staffordshire Road Crime – Proactive & Harm Reduction Team, said, “Keeping people safe on Staffordshire’s roads requires everyone to play their part. We are committed to working with partners to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road network. Operation Doxey demonstrated the value of partnership working, with officers, vehicle examiners and road safety specialists able to identify a range of defects and safety issues before those vehicles continued their journeys.

“Vehicle safety is an important part of that responsibility, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to raise awareness and encourage motorists to make regular tyre checks part of their routine vehicle maintenance. Our message to road users is simple: don’t wait for something to go wrong. Take a few minutes to check your vehicle and make sure it is ready for the road.”

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The AZuR Network has been honoured with the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2026 in the C2C/Recycling category for its ‘Retreading: Climate Protection on Wheels’ project. The recognition highlights the network's efforts to expand tyre retreading across Germany and Europe, thereby extending the useful life of tyres. Retreading works by reusing a suitable used tyre casing and applying a fresh tread, keeping a substantial share of the original tyre in circulation.

A life cycle assessment commissioned by AZuR and carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT compared retreaded tyres with equivalent new ones. Under the conditions examined, producing a retreaded truck tyre generated roughly 135 kilogrammes less greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction exceeding 60 percent. The process also reuses considerable portions of the existing tyre casing, reinforcing its environmental advantages.

The jury underscored the project's scalability and its relevance to the industry. Official documentation further noted the political integration of the topic as a key strength, with the EU taxonomy confirmation in 2025 representing a tangible milestone. The award places AZuR among well-known companies and innovative projects, including a climate protection cooker initiative in Cameroon, a capsule-free coffee system and a mental health awareness campaign.

Knauf secured first place in the same category with its circular gypsum supply chain, while Schmitz Cargobull led the Mobility and Logistics Solutions category. Other first-place winners included DEKRA, Hansgrohe, Pfleiderer Germany and SBRS. Presented by DISQ with ntv and DUP UNTERNEHMER under Brigitte Zypries' patronage, the 2026 edition saw 433 nominations, with 46 organisations recognised across 19 categories on 17 September in Berlin.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, AZuR, said, “This award belongs to our entire network. Retreading only works when many stakeholders collaborate along the value chain – from certified end-of-life tyre recyclers, tyre manufacturers and retreaders to retailers and fleet operators, all the way to academia. The award highlights the potential of using high-quality tyres for longer and keeping their casings in circulation.”

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Birla Carbon will present its carbon black solutions at the Global Polymer Summit 2026, scheduled for 28–30 September at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The company will exhibit at Booth 417, targeting tyre and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) manufacturers seeking higher performance and reduced environmental impact.

The company’s portfolio spans tyre and MRG applications, addressing durability, strength, abrasion resistance and product life across tyres, belts, hoses, sealing systems and anti-vibration products. Birla Carbon will also feature Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM), a circular carbon range with consistent quality and global availability and Continua Sustainable Carbon Black (SCB), produced from recycled or bio-based feedstocks.

Supported by extensive manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-focused teams across the Americas, Birla Carbon provides reliable volumes, responsive service and tailored solutions. Attendees can meet company experts at Booth 417 to explore its product portfolio, technical capabilities and sustainable offerings.

John Davidson, President – Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “The tyre and mechanical rubber goods industries are at an important phase, where performance, supply resilience and sustainability must advance together. The next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration across the value chain and the ability to translate innovation into scalable, commercially viable solutions. At Birla Carbon, we are combining our manufacturing network, portfolio strength, technical expertise and regional capabilities to help customers navigate this transition and build more resilient and sustainable businesses.”

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Michelin has unveiled the X Multi Energy D2 tyre, developed to address the specific challenges of regional haul operations. Fleets in this segment face demanding roads, frequent stop-and-start cycles and escalating fuel expenses that affect both performance and profitability. By blending durability, fuel savings and Michelin’s established performance standards, the new tyre aims to boost fleet productivity while reducing overall operating costs.

The tyre features a revised tread pattern and a new tread compound to better resist tread damage caused by high-torque vehicles and stop-and-go regional driving. It is constructed on Michelin’s Duracore casing, which integrates Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies and benefits from a reinforced bead design known as Duracoil Technology. This casing is engineered to last up to one million miles and support as many as four retreads.

In the effort to curb fuel expenses, the X Multi Energy D2 improves rolling resistance by 9 percent over its predecessor, the Michelin X Multi Energy D tyre, and by 18 percent compared with leading competitors. It also enhances late-life traction, offering 10 percent better wet handling and 16 percent better snow starting traction when worn, giving drivers and operations managers greater confidence on varying roads.

For original equipment manufacturers, the tyre meets Greenhouse Gas standards and supports applicable vehicle carbon-reduction requirements. Designed for regional applications where traction, durability and fuel efficiency matter, it is available in 295/75R22.5 LRG and 11R22.5 LRG and LRH sizes, replacing the X Multi Energy D tyre in those sizes.

Yahn Heurlin, VP of B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Michelin is driven by a deep commitment to understanding the needs and challenges customers face every day. This customer-first mindset inspires the development of purpose-built solutions designed to address real-world pain points and help fleets operate more efficiently.”

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