Covid 19 has impacted the global rubber sector, both big and small stakeholders, hard. This year’s edition of the World Rubber Summit will focus on redefining value chains.

“The summit will have two days of high-level presentations and interactive discussions on identifying pathways to redesign more resilient and sustainable value chains, both at the regional and global levels. It will also focus on the critical role that innovation and new technologies could play in mitigating the social, environmental and economic risks to which the rubber sector, like many others, is currently exposed. Visibility, transparency and data-sharing are critical for the 21st century supply chain,” says Salvatore Pinizzotto, Secretary-General, The International Rubber Study Group.

What would be the key focus for this year’s edition of WRS?

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) will organise the World Rubber Summit (WRS) in Singapore. The annual event will provide a unique and exclusive opportunity for global leaders to meet, share best practices and lay the foundations for future collaborations. The theme of the World Rubber Summit 2022 (WRS 2022) is ‘A Resilient, Digitalised and Sustainable Rubber Economy: Redefining Value Chains’. 

To be held between 24 and 26 May in Singapore at the ParkRoyal on Beach Road, WRS 2022 will be a hybrid event like the previous editions.

The summit will have two days of high-level presentations and interactive discussions on identifying pathways to redesign more resilient and sustainable value chains, both at the regional and global levels. It will also focus on the critical role that innovation and new technologies could play in mitigating the social, environmental and economic risks to which the rubber sector, like many others, is currently exposed. Visibility, transparency and data-sharing are critical for the 21st century supply chain.

I believe this is the time when companies and organisations in the rubber sector should rethink their business model as conditions are changing and new opportunities arise. This is a nique opportunity for all stakeholders involved in the natural and synthetic rubber economy to be innovative to foster resilience, adaptability and long term sustainability.

Furthermore, in their journey towards a net-zero economy, businesses need to redefine, execute and evolve decarbonisation and offsetting plans for scope 1 and 2 emissions and potentially expand those plans to include scope 3 emissions. Integrate climate-related factors into decision-making processes for strategy, finance and capital spending and consider leading actions with others in the rubber industry and/or in their ecosystem of investors, supply chains, customers and regulators. In particular, financial institutions will have an important role to play in supporting large-scale capital reallocation. On the other hand, governments and multilateral institutions could use existing and new policy, regulatory and fiscal tools to establish incentives, support vulnerable stakeholders and foster collective actions.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Enterprise Singapore, our strategic partner, for being this year, too, as every year when the event is organised in Singapore.Their inputs and contribution are very valuable and essential for IRSG. 

Also, this year I am pleased to announce that the Nanyang Technology University (NTU) Singapore’s Agri-Food Innovation Lab (SAIL) will join the World Rubber Summit 2022 as Knowledge Partner. This is the first time for IRSG to have such a significant collaboration. It follows the decision taken by IRSG to participate and contribute to SAIL’s activities as a partner.

Last year, the African region was the focus, and this year it is Latin America. Could you share some information on the Latin American rubber industry and its contribution to the global rubber industry?

The 26th of May, the third day of the WRS 2022, will be dedicated to an entirely virtual side event on the rubber sector in Latin America organised by IRSG together with APABOR and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Tecnologia del Caucho (SLTC). Latin America is an area of growing importance for the world rubber economy, and it could play a relevant strategic role in shortening supply chains and making them more reliable. There are two trends that, in my view, need to be fully considered when we speak about rubber in Latin America. Firstly, the rubber sector is rapidly expanding in Brazil and other countries in that region, such as Guatemala and Colombia. There is an essential trend towards greater integration of the Latin American natural rubber market. Secondly, this is a region where the push towards product innovation and value-added could create a diversified market by exploiting various niche markets in the manufacturing sector such as auto parts, medical industry and even environmental services. In IRSG, we think it is really important to bring to the attention of the general public new developments that are occurring in the rubber economy because it helps to support this process towards innovation and highlight the strategic role that rubber has in the world economy and for our day-by-day life. 

What are the main barriers to sustainable and inclusive growth in the rubber industry?

In the rubber economy, as in other sectors, we need to figure out effective forms of collaboration among stakeholders at local, national, regional and global levels to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. Such partnerships will be able to identify and prioritise actions on the ground without forgetting a certain degree of coherence among the various interventions planned. Of course, this is not easy, because we have several numbers of producing countries; most of the production of natural rubber comes from smallholders, and there are long and complex supply chains. On top of this, new challenges need to be addressed, such as the impact of climate changes on natural rubber systems, a topic that IRSG, together with other leading organisations in the rubber sector (IRRDB, CIFOR/FTA and CIRAD), has decided to investigate since June 2020 and that has produced as an outcome the publication of a policy paper in December 2021. In addressing these issues, we need to have a holistic sectorial approach, with each stakeholder really providing its own skills and support, listening to each other and finding common solutions. The goal is not to leave anyone behind, so we need to pay special attention to smallholders and SMEs that might find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to put in place any sustainable practice and/or initiative. Although some improvements over the years have been achieved, working in this direction has not been an easy process. The pace and scale of this transition mean that today’s organisations and institutions need to be revamped, and maybe new ones created to disseminate best practices, establish standards and tracking mechanisms, drive capital deployment at scale, manage uneven impacts and support further coordination efforts. IRSG will continue to collaborate with other organisations to genuinely ensure that rubber could become an inclusive and sustainable economy.

All major rubber consumers, especially tyre companies, are talking about traceability, transparency and data sharing. Is it really happening in the rubber industry when small stakeholders dominate the more significant portion of the industry?

This process will require coordination, a vast amount of capital and large scale actions on the ground. The stakeholders in the rubber economy have the responsibility to ensure that these three factors will play a synergic role in increasing transparency and dramatically improving traceability. Innovative tools are already available, and more will come in the future, but we need to guarantee the long term wellbeing of smallholders. They need cost-effective support to apply consistently sustainable agriculture practices, have easier access to the market, IT infrastructures and adequate/updated education.

In this World Rubber Summit, IRSG is collaborating with the NextGen Leaders Programme 2021. Could you outline the goal and mission of this initiative?

The NextGen Leaders Programme 2021 has been launched by the IRSG secretariat to create a platform for engaging several ambitious young professionals in the rubber sector in national, regional and international activities and events. The programme participants are invited to collaborate with IRSG’s global rubber dialogue, support the development of balanced policy frameworks and help shape solutions for tomorrow’s rubber economy. The NextGen Rubber Leaders community builds on creative ideas and innovative potential for the next generation to challenge conventional thinking and explore new strategies for the future of the whole rubber economy. It offers young professionals a unique opportunity for learning and development with exposure to critical issues in the rubber debate. Currently, there are 10 participants in the programme covering the whole rubber value chain and from various countries (Singapore, Thailand, Germany, Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Brazil). The World Rubber Summit 2022 will be the first opportunity for them to go public. They will provide their effective contribution to the dialogue on the future of the rubber sector. 

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has strengthened its position as a leader in sustainable tyre technology and a conscientious partner in India's green industrial journey by commencing production of its ‘UX Royale Green’ passenger car tyres at its Chennai Tyre Plant using ISCC Plus-certified sustainable raw materials.

Developed in August 2023, the UX Royale Green is made with 80 percent sustainable, recycled and renewable materials and was put to rigorous evaluation and testing. The sustainable tyre is the product of more than 10 years of diligent study conducted by the Global Tech Centre of JK Tyre. The company's research and development team has been concentrating on creating sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based products. The certification confirms the usage of traceable, ethically obtained renewable and recycled raw materials and is given under the internationally recognised International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC +) system. Certified raw materials for the UX Royale Green include steel wire, recycled polyester, recovered carbonaceous black, bio-attributed polymers, renewable oils and recycled rubber powder. All of these products are sourced using circular methods.

Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, said, "The commencement of sustainable tyre production represents a defining step in JK Tyre’s journey toward environmentally responsible innovation. We are pleased to set new industry benchmarks that balance high performance with ecological responsibility. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to driving responsible mobility – anchored in green technology, circular economy principles and the delivery of world-class, low-impact products. At the same time, innovation, quality and safety continue to be foundational to our operations."

Apollo Tyres has launched the ‘Apollo Tyres Healthcare Express’, a mobile medical unit designed to monitor the health of truckers and the surrounding community. C Thomas Mathew, Unit Head, Chennai Plant, Apollo Tyres Ltd, flagged off the unit, which would service major transport hubs within a 50-km radius, including Madhavaram, Manjambakkam and Poonamallee, serving a population of over 10,000 truckers.

For a small consultation charge of INR 10 per visit, this mobile medical unit will offer essential healthcare services to the trucking community. It will provide a wide range of services, such as general medical care, screenings for certain diseases and preventative and awareness programmes. Additionally, it will increase knowledge of important health concerns including HIV/AIDS, STI prevention, vision care, tuberculosis and non-communicable illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. A team consisting of a medical officer (MBBS), a pharmacist, an optometrist, outreach workers and a project coordinator will run Apollo Tyres' Healthcare Express.

Over 12 million people have benefited from the Apollo Tyres Foundation's healthcare initiative for the trucking community since it began in 2000. The organisation reached out to more than a million people in order to raise awareness during the Covid-19 outbreak. In partnership with local authorities, it also made it easier for over 10,000 people to get tested for Covid-19 and for over 150,000 people to get vaccinated.

World-class cyclist and multiple Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar has joined Continental as its new global ambassador.

This new collaboration with one of the best contemporary cyclists is a logical continuation of Continental's longstanding reputation as a reliable brand in both the automotive and cycling industries. The long-term relationship will place special emphasis on fostering mutual respect and understanding between bikers and drivers. Pogačar and Continental are both dedicated to enhancing communication between drivers and boosting everyone's safety.

In 2024, Pogačar, 26, created history by winning several Monument races and placing first in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Road World Championships. Only two riders in history have accomplished this feat. In addition, he earned victories in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Strade Bianche. He is committed to developing future cycling talent in Slovenia and abroad through his foundation and the ‘Pogi Team’ development squad.

For many years, Continental has maintained a strong presence in the cycling industry. Not only do all of the support cars of the Tour de France use Continental car tyres, but numerous elite teams, including the 2024 winning squad, also use Continental bike tyres. Additionally, Continental is a major sponsor of the Giro d'Italia, providing its automobile tyres to all official support vehicles to increase safety on the difficult 3,000-kilometre course.

Pogačar said, "Top performance is not only the result of talent, but also of the pursuit of continuous development. Continental and I share the ambition to always make the most of our possibilities – both in terms of sport and development. So this partnership was an obvious choice. As a professional cyclist, I know how crucial it is to trust your tyres. Without the right equipment, I wouldn't have become the rider I am today.”

Egemen Atış, Head of Strategy, Analytics & Marketing at Continental Tires EMEA, said, "Tadej Pogačar and Continental both stand for exceptional performance but above all for safe driving. Risky manoeuvres, misjudging situations and thinking only of oneself doesn't win races. Tadej’s ability to see the bigger picture, alongside his extraordinary talent, makes him not only the best cyclist in the world at the moment, but also the perfect partner for Continental."

Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo Tyres Ltd reported a 3% increase in annual revenue to INR 261.23 billion for fiscal year 2024-25, while its net profit fell 35 percent from the previous year.

The company, which markets its products under the Apollo and Vredestein brands, saw its operating profit decline to INR 35.71 billion for the full year, compared with INR 44.47 billion in the previous fiscal year.

For the fourth quarter ended March 31, Apollo Tyres posted a revenue of INR 64.24 billion, up 3% year-on-year, while quarterly net profit dropped to INR 1.85 billion from INR 3.54 billion in the same period last year.

"We acknowledge that our performance over the past few quarters has not met industry benchmarks and our own expectations. After a thorough internal review, we have identified the key challenges that contributed to this underperformance," said Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo Tyres.

"With targeted strategies now in place to address these issues, we are confident in our ability to deliver stronger results in the coming quarters," he added.

Apollo Tyres, which has manufacturing facilities in India, the Netherlands and Hungary, distributes its products in over 100 countries.