Speciality materials company Trinseo reported a third-quarter net loss of USD 87 million, driven largely by restructuring and other charges totalling USD 26 million. 

This follows recently announced restructuring efforts aimed at streamlining operations. The company posted an adjusted EBITDA of USD 66 million, marking a USD 25 million increase year-over-year.

Despite a one percent year-over-year decline in net sales to USD 868 million, the company attributed an eight percent decrease in sales to intentional reductions in low-margin areas like polystyrene and latex binders. However, a seven percent increase from higher raw material prices partially offset this decline.

Commenting on the company’s third-quarter performance, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinseo, Frank Bozich said, “As expected, market conditions and Adjusted EBITDA were sequentially similar to the prior quarter. Despite continued weak demand in many of our end markets, particularly building and construction and appliances, we saw significant year-over-year profitability improvement largely as a result of our restructuring actions and continued moderation of European input costs.”

Third Quarter Performance by Segment

Engineered Materials: The segment posted a 12 percent rise in net sales, reaching USD 207 million, driven by increased sales volume in consumer electronics and medical applications. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment rose by USD 20 million to USD 25 million, benefiting from improved margins and a favourable product mix.

 Latex Binders: Net sales increased eight percent to USD 242 million, primarily due to higher prices that offset a drop in sales volume for paper and carpet applications. Adjusted EBITDA increased by USD 8 million to USD 26 million, reflecting improved margins and a positive regional and product mix.

Plastics Solutions: Net sales rose three percent year-over-year to USD 268 million, driven by higher raw material costs. Adjusted EBITDA climbed USD 11 million to USD 28 million, aided by higher fixed cost absorption and inventory builds in preparation for the closure of the virgin polycarbonate facility in Stade, Germany.

Polystyrene: This segment saw a 28 percent year-over-year decline in net sales to USD 151 million, impacted by a 35 percent decrease in volume after the closure of the Terneuzen, Netherlands, facility and a reduction in low-margin sales. Adjusted EBITDA rose by USD 5 million to USD 4 million due to higher margins and cost savings from the Terneuzen facility exit.

Fourth Quarter Outlook

Trinseo projects a net loss of between USD 71 million and USD 81 million in the fourth quarter, with adjusted EBITDA expected to range from USD 40 million to USD 50 million. Bozich noted that while fourth-quarter EBITDA is anticipated to dip from year-end seasonality, restructuring benefits should sustain profitability above prior-year levels. The company also expects positive free cash flow due to seasonal working capital improvements.

Commenting on the fourth quarter outlook, Bozich said, “We expect Adjusted EBITDA to be sequentially lower from year-end seasonality, but still higher than the prior year due to the benefits from our restructuring initiatives. We also expect free cash flow to turn positive in the fourth quarter due to typical seasonal working capital improvements.”

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Prometeon Tyre Manufacturing is in discussions with Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade over a planned US$400 million expansion, as the company moves to scale up production and strengthen its position in one of its key regional hubs.

A senior delegation from parent company China National Tire & Rubber Company met Minister Hassan Al-Khatib in Cairo to outline Prometeon’s growth plans for its Amreya factory in Alexandria. The group included chairman Wang Jian Jun, vice president Sun Deng, Prometeon Egypt chairman Omar Mehna, deputy general manager Yuan Liang, Africa–Middle East CEO Stefano Ziliani and CFO Hisham Abdel-Hadi.

During the meeting, Al-Khatib commended the pace of Prometeon’s development efforts, saying the ministry “will spare no effort to meet the company's requirements, in the context of preparing a conducive climate for investment and to protect the competition”. He also said Prometeon would receive continued backing through the China Unit at the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones to ensure the company has “all the necessary information and required data”.

Prometeon executives told the minister that the planned investment aims to increase its investments by $400 million, which is in production of 1 1 one million additional car tires and upskill the existing factory efficiency.

 Prometeon’s Alexandria complex currently produces about 5.2 million tyres annually, and the expansion would introduce new manufacturing technologies to raise output and improve capability.

As part of its proposal, the company is seeking an additional 200,000 square metres of land adjacent to its current site to support the enlarged facility. Prometeon is also exploring the establishment of a dedicated free zone to serve its export-focused operations.

For Prometeon, the investment aligns with its strategy to reinforce Egypt as a central platform for supplying markets across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The company views the country’s manufacturing base and export access as key strengths as global demand patterns shift.

The talks signal the company’s intention to deepen its long-term commitment in Egypt, subject to final approvals and land allocation.

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Yokohama Rubber Co. has opened a new passenger-car tyre plant in Hangzhou, completing the project one month ahead of schedule and marking the first major milestone under its fast-build manufacturing strategy in China.

The company held an opening ceremony recently, attended by local government officials and community representatives. Yokohama Rubber was represented by President and COO Shinji Seimiya, who praised the speed of construction and stressed the plant’s role in the group’s long-term ambitions.

In his remarks, Seimiya said he was grateful for the support that allowed the project to finish ahead of plan. He also noted that the new plant is a very important project for Yokohama Rubber's sustainable growth in the future and that every effort will be made to quickly achieve mass production and deliver high-quality, high-value-added products to the Chinese market as soon as possible.

The Hangzhou facility is the first plant built under the company’s “1-year plant” challenge, a core initiative in its medium-term strategy, Yokohama Transformation 2026. The programme aims to speed up factory construction while lowering production costs and improving efficiency. Work on the new plant began in December 2024, with operations now starting in November 2025.

The project also fulfils a request from the Hangzhou government to relocate an older plant as part of the city’s environmental plans. The new factory will have an annual capacity of 9 million tyres—about 3 million more than the site it replaces—positioning Yokohama to meet rising demand for passenger-car tyres in China. Full-scale production is expected by the second quarter of 2026.

The expansion strengthens the company’s supply of high-value tyres for China’s fast-growing new energy vehicle market, including EV-focused designs and larger rim sizes.

Alongside the rapid-build initiative, Yokohama is pushing to raise the share of premium products in its consumer tyre business by expanding sales of its ADVAN and GEOLANDAR brands, winter tyres, and 18-inch and larger tyres. The company is also rolling out regional product strategies to tailor development and sales to market-specific trends.

The opening of the Hangzhou plant underscores how Yokohama Rubber is trying to sharpen its competitive position in Asia’s largest tyre market while keeping pace with shifts in vehicle technology and local regulations.

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HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has been honoured as a Community Contribution Certified Company for the seventh consecutive year. The recognition was conferred at the 2025 Community Contribution Recognition Day event in Seoul, where the company also received a Minister of Health and Welfare’s Commendation and the highest possible ‘S’ grade. This dual accolade underscores the sustained public value and consistent performance of its social responsibility programmes.

The certification itself is a rigorous evaluation administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. It involves a comprehensive review based on ESG Principles, spanning multiple evaluation areas and numerous detailed indicators. In the latest assessment, the company excelled particularly in environmental management, earning recognition for its robust sustainability and carbon-neutral practices. Its diverse community initiatives, which are developed through long-term regional partnerships and extensive employee volunteerism, were also highly commended for building a stable and effective collaborative framework with local communities.

This ongoing commitment has been strategically reinforced following the establishment of the HS Hyosung Group in 2024. Under the new slogan ‘Value, Together’, the company has redefined its approach to social contribution. Its efforts are now organised around three core pillars: providing support for vulnerable groups, fostering the advancement of local communities and culture and promoting eco-friendly initiatives.

H S CHO, Vice Chairman, HS HYOSUNG, said, “Receiving the Minister of Health and Welfare’s Commendation and the highest ‘S’ grade is the result of our longstanding commitment to putting ‘Value, Together’ into action within our communities. We will continue to carry out diverse social contribution initiatives as a responsible company that grows together with local communities.”

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Toyo Tires has become a member of the Global Data Service Organisation for Tyres and Automotive Components (GDSO). This international non-profit is dedicated to creating universal data standards for tyres and auto components. Through this collaboration, Toyo Tires will intensify its efforts to establish industry-wide systems for tyre identification and traceability, which are crucial for modern supply chains.

A core component of this initiative involves the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. This wireless system allows for non-contact identification of individual tyres, which significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of quality assurance and inventory management processes. By building a comprehensive database of its products, Toyo Tires will enhance information reliability across the entire industry.

The data accumulated through RFID will be instrumental in developing high-value-added services, particularly within the company’s solution business such as retreading and maintenance programmes. This strengthens information management throughout a tyre's entire life cycle. Furthermore, this technological adoption supports Toyo Tires' broader commitment to sustainability. By proactively leveraging digital tools like RFID, the company aims to reduce its environmental impact while simultaneously enhancing its corporate value and advancing the development of more sustainable tyres.

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