First of all the negative growth had contracted sharply in the second quarter. Pandemic had brought the economy to a grinding halt in the first quarter and the economy collapsed by 24%, arguably the worst contraction in modern history. The contraction eased to 7.5% in the second quarter much less than the 9-11% projected by rating agencies and the analysts. More than that, several economic indicators pointed towards a turnaround.  Be it GST collections, sales of vehicles, industrial output or generation of e-way bills - all regained lost ground in the months of Oct and Nov’20, and some even surpassed the pre-pandemic levels.

It is also evident that corporate India has responded favourably to the Government’s stimulus measures. During the second quarter, sequential recovery from the first one was visible across sectors as the lockdown restrictions eased. Some sectors were even able to bounce back to pre-COVID levels and post revenue growth on an annual basis, confirms an ICRA report.

In this context, the performance of tyre industry offers interesting insights. As the process of unlock commenced and economic activities gathered momentum, tyre industry, though badly badgered during the lockdown,  worked incessantly, braving odds, to catalyse the economic momentum. Tyre production in India was up 17% in Sept’20 in comparison to Sept’19 levels. The production of Truck & Bus tyres, often celebrated as the wheels of the economy went up by significant 39% in Sept against the year ago period.

For years, the tyre industry has been asking for policy enablers to enhance exports from the country. Government has shown political will and has taken some far-reaching policy measures in aid of the industry having appreciated the pain areas coming in the way of its full blossoming.

The industry has responded to these policy initiatives in equal measure. Notwithstanding disruption in international trade following COVID-19 pandemic and protectionist stance being adopted by countries, Indian tyre industry managed to touch a figure of nearly Rs 6000 crore in exports in the first half of the ongoing fiscal year. Impressive export performance in the second quarter compensated for the sharp drop of 23% in tyre exports experienced in Q1 bringing the overall decline down to 7% in the first half of current fiscal.

Having fallen to a low of 26 thousand units of exports in the month of April this year in view of  the lockdown, Truck & Bus Radial (TBR) tyre exports have been on their way up and reached 1.85 lakh units in Sept, the highest ever monthly exports in the category so far.

The recovery in Passenger Car Radial tyres has been rather sterling. From 9 thousand units of exports in April, PCR tyre exports touched a figure of nearly 2 lakh tyres in Sept, again a historic high for the category.  The scenario is no different in case of Motorcycle tyre exports. The month of Sept recorded exports of over 2.5 lakh units, a feat rarely achieved so far.

Farm/ Agri tyre exports from India have witnessed an impressive double digit growth in the first half of FY21 notwithstanding the lockdown. The month of Sept'20 witnessed exports of 3.9 lakh units of Agri tyres, one of the highest marks ever achieved. Moreover, the tyre exports from India have been to some of the discerning markets in the world. US and Germany are the dominant markets for Indian manufactured Farm/Agri tyres accounting for over 30% share. The US has emerged as a major recipient of TBR tyres from India. More than one-third of TBR tyre exports from India were destined for the US during the first half of the current fiscal year..

Tyre industry may provide just one of the glimpses of India’s manufacturing prowess and its ability to rise to the occasion. Recently speaking at a conclave of country's management leaders organised by All India Management Association, RC Bhargava, Maruti Suzuki India Chairman, emphatically stated that India has the capability to become a lower cost producer than China if the industry and the government work together. He rightly argued that the only objective of government policies has to be to increase the competitiveness of Indian industry..

It is hoped that the process of revival of the economy will gather momentum despite the lurking fear of disruptions caused by COVID-19. Here is wishing everyone a very Happy and Safe 2021 .May the trials and tribulations cease in the New Year.

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Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), was a distinguished speaker at the World Elastomer Technology and Engineering Forum (WETEF) in Shanghai from 13 to 16 September 2026. Co-organised with RubberTech China, the event attracted over 100,000 professional visitors, industry leaders, scholars and executives from dozens of countries.

His participation delivered strategic benefits for ANRPC and its members by raising natural rubber's profile amid global discussions dominated by synthetic elastomers and advanced materials. Aligning with WETEF's eco-friendly manufacturing focus, he promoted climate-positive practices, traceability and environmentally sound processing methods.

The forum also created direct dialogue channels with major consuming markets and international technical institutions, strengthening trade synergies. It provided valuable insights into breakthrough elastomer science, helping member nations adapt to shifting international market demands.

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Kuraray Co., Ltd. has contributed JPY 9,896,480, roughly USD 64,000, to four international nonprofit organisations. The funds were generated through employee participation in ‘100 Challenge’, a global initiative tied to the company’s centennial observances.

The World Food Programme received JPY 2,804,003, while UNICEF was granted JPY 2,474,120. WaterAid obtained JPY 2,405,394 and WWF was allocated JPY 2,212,963. Each organisation’s share corresponded directly to points accumulated by Kuraray Group staff.

The Group marked its 100th anniversary in June 2026, adopting ‘Possible starts here’ and a related brand story as the guiding concept for its centennial activities. While honouring those who built its first century, Kuraray is pursuing diverse efforts intended to shape the next 100 years, with employees worldwide at the centre. The company seeks to connect staff across departments, countries and languages, fostering unity and connection.

A dedicated app called ‘100 Challenge’, inspired by younger employees, formed one such effort. Participants completed 100 in-app tasks, earning points that supported social contribution activities. The app provided a shared experience regardless of location or role, with individual efforts contributing to both a commemorative mosaic artwork and charitable donations. By combining small individual challenges, the initiative illustrated how personal actions can generate meaningful collective impact, reflecting long-held Kuraray Group values.

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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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