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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Goodyear kicks off its latest European Le Mans Series campaign this weekend in Barcelona, where it remains the sole tyre provider for the LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am and LMGT3 classes. The season opener at the 4 Hours of Barcelona will see 37 cars racing on Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres at a circuit infamous for pushing both tyre performance and pit strategy to their limits.

What makes the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya so demanding is the constant dilemma it creates for team strategists. The common practice of running two stints on a single set of tyres offers valuable time savings by reducing pit stops, but that benefit must be weighed against the gradual loss of grip over many laps. Goodyear anticipates this very calculation will once again shape the outcome of the 4-hour contest.

For the LMGT3 category, the hard compound of the Racing Eagle has been chosen specifically to endure Barcelona’s abrasive surface, a tyre previously proven on tough tracks like São Paulo, Austin and Bahrain in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Meanwhile, LMP2 contenders will run Goodyear’s newest Eagle slick, a specification introduced at Le Castellet last season that now becomes the fixed LMP2 tyre for the full 2026 ELMS season and for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.

Beyond the dry tyres, each class is also equipped with a Racing Eagle wet tyre whose tread pattern is designed to channel away water and sustain grip in the rain. Goodyear’s presence this weekend extends far beyond Spain, as its Racing Eagle tyres are also competing at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee across three NASCAR series and at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Barcelona is demanding on tyres, with long, high speed corners and a layout that typically places enormous load on the front-left. That high stress is exactly why we’ve chosen the Eagle Hard compound for LMGT3 this weekend: it can withstand the aggressive wear and degradation, giving teams the confidence to plan their strategies and decide whether double-stinting will deliver the best race performance.”

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Kumho Tire USA has announced a significant contribution to the Tire Industry Association’s Tire Industry Scholarship programme, which operates in collaboration with the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF). Over the next five years, Kumho will donate USD 5,000 annually, resulting in a total pledge of USD 25,000 aimed at supporting the next generation of professionals in the tyre and automotive service sectors.

This scholarship programme provides USD 2,500 awards to students who are pursuing higher education or vocational training directly related to the tyre and automotive service industry. By administering these funds through the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, the programme seeks to build a stronger talent pipeline for the industry through educational support.

Kumho Tire now joins a growing list of member companies from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) that have chosen to back this scholarship effort. The programme was first established in November 2025, and Kumho’s commitment reinforces the collective drive to invest in future workforce development.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "Our five-year pledge to the TIA Scholarship programme reflects KUMHO's broader commitment to developing and supporting the next generation of tyre industry professionals. We are proud to invest in education and help provide greater opportunities for the future workforce who will shape our industry."

Dick Gust, CEO, Tire Industry Association, said, "Kumho Tire USA's generous commitment is a powerful investment in the future of our industry. By supporting the Tire Industry Scholarship programme, they are helping to build a stronger, more skilled workforce and opening doors for the next generation of industry professionals."

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The Dunlop RoadSmart IV has emerged as the top performer in the latest road tyre test conducted by renowned German publication MOTORRAD. This premium sport touring tyre received high marks for its outstanding handling characteristics and its ability to deliver balanced performance regardless of weather or road surface conditions. The victory adds to Dunlop’s growing list of independent testing successes this year, following a similar overall win for the SportSmart mk4 in an earlier sport tyre comparison.

In the test, MOTORRAD fitted three road focused tyres to a BMW R 1300 GS using the specific sizes of 120/70 R19 at the front and 170/60 R17 at the rear. The RoadSmart IV secured first place overall in the road tyre category, demonstrating class leading wet performance while also tying for the best results in the dry sub category. This achievement marks the second time in half a decade that this particular tyre has claimed top honours in a MOTORRAD test.

Testers were especially impressed by the tyre’s precise dry handling and the clear feedback it provides to the rider. They observed that the RoadSmart IV turns in more easily than its rivals, making it highly recommended for motorcycles that tend to have sluggish steering behaviour. On the BMW test bike, the tyre felt stable rather than unsettled, excelling with high cornering speed, solid grip at maximum lean angle and extremely accurate feedback. In wet conditions, the tyre offered easy manoeuvring ability through fast cornering sequences, with its precise communication clearly signalling the limits in a user-friendly manner.

MOTORRAD summarised the RoadSmart IV as an incredible all-rounder that combines excellent handling with top performance in all conditions, even suggesting that riders on a GS could use it to annoy superbike riders. Thanks to its strong showing on both dry and wet surfaces, the tyre also earned the magazine’s coveted Kauftipp, or purchase recommendation, award.

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “This result for RoadSmart IV reinforces our goal to deliver a perfect balance of outstanding dry performance and exceptional wet grip and precise handling, even after several thousand kilometres. We’re proud to see it recognised once again as a benchmark in the sport touring segment.”

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The JK Tyre - WIAA Women's Car Rally to Valley 2026 took off on 28 March from NSCI, Mumbai, with a flag-off ceremony led by Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) Chairman Nitin Dossa and JK Tyre officials. Over 200 women participated, decorating their vehicles around themes like cancer awareness, gender equality and women’s empowerment before driving towards the Novotel Imagicaa hotel in Khopoli.

Families and supporters gathered at the start, creating a festival-like mood as participants wore themed attire. The rally follows a Time-Speed-Distance format, rewarding precision and teamwork over speed, with contestants navigating hilly roads for about 125 kilometres to the finish.

Organised by the 107-year-old non-profit Western India Automobile Association, which advocates for safe mobility, road safety, environmental sustainability and policy change, the event has become a platform celebrating womanhood and resilience. This year’s edition reinforced the global road safety messages of #CommitToLife and #BeSafeBeStrong.

JK Tyre has long supported women in motorsport through dedicated initiatives, and its continued partnership with the WIAA Women’s Car Rally reflects a belief that motorsport can drive meaningful change both on and off the road.

Srinivasu Allaphan, Director – Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre & Industries, said, “For over a decade, we have been committed to encouraging women’s participation in motorsport, and the JK Tyre–WIAA Women’s Car Rally to Valley stands as a testament to that vision. Now a marquee event, the rally celebrates the spirit of motorsport while championing important social causes. We are encouraged by the strong enthusiasm of the participants as we continue to build greater awareness around road safety.”

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