Yokohama Rubber Posts Record Profits

Yokohama Rubber Posts Record Profits

Yokohama Rubber posted record-high business and financial results for the first nine months of fiscal 2024, driven by substantial revenue and profitability growth across its key business segments.

The company reported a 13.1 percent increase in sales revenue from the same period last year, reaching USD 5022 million. Business profit rose 69.6 percent to USD 535 million, operating profit increased 63.8 percent to USD 551 million, and profit attributable to the parent company’s owners climbed 36.5 percent to USD 390 million.

The Group’s business profit margin also reached 10.7 percent, its highest level ever for this time frame.

Yokohama Rubber attributed this robust growth to efforts to expand sales volume, implement product price increases and optimise the product mix. A full-year contribution from Y-TWS and the positive impact of yen depreciation further supported the performance.

Segment Results

Tyre Business: Sales in the tyre segment reached USD 4498 million, a significant increase from USD 3931 million in the same period last year. Business profit for the segment surged to USD 505 million, up from USD 287 million. Growth was driven by higher sales volume, favourable product mix and effective price increases in response to raw material costs.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT: YOHT recorded sales of USD 684 million, up from USD 632 million in 2023, while business profit rose to USD 81.45 million, compared to USD 76.3 million the previous year. The segment benefited from strong demand in the agricultural and industrial tyre markets, particularly in overseas markets.

Yokohama Tire & Wheel Solutions (Y-TWS): Sales in Y-TWS totaled USD 737 million, a substantial increase from USD 432 million in 2023. Business profit came in at USD 46.81 million, reversing a loss of USD 7.05 in the prior year. The improvement reflects strong sales of speciality tyres and positive impacts from structural changes and efficiency improvements.

Yokohama Rubber’s CEO emphasised the company’s ongoing focus on strategic growth initiatives, including high-margin products and global market expansion. The results underscore Yokohama Rubber’s resilience and adaptability in a challenging economic environment.

NEW LIFE Initiative To Host Municipal Climate Dialogue Focused On Tyre Rubber Granulate

NEW LIFE Initiative To Host Municipal Climate Dialogue Focused On Tyre Rubber Granulate

AZuR partner NEW LIFE initiative is set to host the inaugural Municipal Climate Dialogue on 22 April 2026, coinciding with International Earth Day. This free online forum, beginning at 10:00 a.m., is designed for municipal decision-makers to connect with experts and editors from the trade journal KOMMUNALWIRTSCHAFT. The event is structured around three focused 30-minute sessions, each dedicated to exploring proven strategies and concrete implementation methods for developing urban spaces that are both liveable and climate-friendly.

A central theme of this digital expert discussion is the critical role of sustainable building materials, with particular prominence given to high-quality recycled products derived from tyre rubber granulate. These solutions directly address the objectives of a climate-resilient city: reducing CO₂ emissions, minimising waste and conserving natural resources. Furthermore, the use of tyre rubber granulate obtained from end-of-life tyres aligns with the German Circular Economy Act (KrWG), which mandates public contracting authorities to prioritise recycled and durable materials. The dialogue will highlight how such products are instrumental in sustainable urban development.

Following a brief opening plenary, the event will feature three parallel 30-minute sessions, allowing participants to easily navigate between online rooms dedicated to distinct urban development topics. The morning begins at 10:10 a.m. with a focus on sustainable urban development, covering building protection through green roofs and photovoltaic systems, impact sound insulation for various construction types and vibration isolation. At 10:40 a.m., the discussion shifts to playgrounds, sports facilities and green spaces, addressing impact-absorbing flooring, playing field surfaces and green area reinforcement. The final session at 11:10 a.m. centres on transport and sustainable mobility, exploring traffic noise protection, recycled rubber asphalt for roads and traffic calming measures.

Products made from tyre rubber granulate offer municipalities a combination of ecological and economic advantages. Their use helps reactivate open spaces and reduce surface sealing, improving the urban climate through applications like water-permeable paving and rainwater-retaining green roof layers. These solutions are weather-resistant, slip-resistant and customisable while also providing long-term economic benefits due to their durability, low maintenance requirements and reduced need for repairs. Such high-quality recycled products are already being successfully implemented in urban development and municipal renovation projects nationwide.

Liberty Tire CEO Thomas Womble Named Dealmaker Of The Year By Pittsburgh Dealmakers Hall of Fame

Liberty Tire CEO Thomas Womble Named Dealmaker Of The Year By Pittsburgh Dealmakers Hall of Fame

Thomas Womble, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, a prominent player in North America's tyre recycling sector, has been named Dealmaker of the Year by Pittsburgh Smart Business Dealmakers, an honour that places him among a distinguished group recognised for their decades-long influence on local industry and innovation. This accolade, presented by the Pittsburgh Dealmakers Hall of Fame, celebrates leaders whose work has produced a groundbreaking impact not only within their own organisations but across the broader regional business landscape.

Womble’s leadership was formally celebrated at the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference on 19 February, where the 2026 class of winners collectively illustrated the strength and vitality of Pittsburgh’s business community. Under his direction, Liberty Tire Recycling has evolved into a nationwide environmental services leader, operating a vast network of processing plants and employing more than 3,500 people while helping customers advance their sustainability objectives through large-scale tyre recycling.

A defining moment under Womble’s tenure came with the company’s USD 1.5 billion acquisition by I Squared Capital, a transaction that underscored Liberty’s critical position in circular economy infrastructure. This milestone, coupled with ongoing strategic acquisitions and operational growth, positions the company for sustained expansion as it continues to deliver environmentally responsible solutions for tyre manufacturers and distributors.

Maxion Wheels And Daimler Truck To Display Circular Concept Truck At IFAT Munich 2026

Maxion Wheels And Daimler Truck To Display Circular Concept Truck At IFAT Munich 2026

Maxion Wheels, a division of Iochpe-Maxion and a global leader in wheel manufacturing, is playing a key role in bringing Daimler Truck’s vision for more sustainable commercial vehicle manufacturing to life through a collaborative effort on a concept refuse collection truck. This innovative vehicle will be showcased at IFAT Munich, the premier global gathering for the recycling and environmental sector taking place from 4 to 7 May 2026 at Trade Fair Center Messe München. Designed to highlight a commitment to circular materials, resource efficiency and forward-thinking industrial processes, the concept truck serves as a tangible demonstration of how the commercial vehicle sector can embrace environmentally responsible practices.

As the wheel supplier for this project, Maxion Wheels is translating its deep expertise in sustainability into direct action. The company is supplying steel truck wheels engineered through a combination of lightweight construction, optimised design strategies and advanced material science. By incorporating both primary and recycled materials into the manufacturing process, these wheels are specifically developed to help reduce emissions and lower the overall carbon footprint of the vehicle, reinforcing the project’s broader goals of environmental stewardship and industrial innovation.

Hankook Tire Celebrates TGL Season 2 Finale With High-Stakes Championship

Hankook Tire Celebrates TGL Season 2 Finale With High-Stakes Championship

Hankook Tire marked the conclusion of TGL presented by SoFi Season 2 as the league’s inaugural Official Tire Partner and a Founding Partner. The championship event was held on 23–24 March 2026 at Florida’s SoFi Center. Throughout the season, Hankook Tire leveraged the platform to elevate its premium brand presence across roughly 150 countries. This initiative directly reflects Chairman Hyunbum Cho’s vision of uniting mobility and sports through technological innovation, allowing Hankook to deliver a fresh and engaging brand experience to fans worldwide.

The championship itself was a best-of-three clash between two first-time finalists, Jupiter Links GC and Los Angeles Golf Club. In the opening match on 23 March, Los Angeles secured a dramatic one-point comeback win, highlighted by Sahith Theegala’s strategic use of ‘THE HAMMER’ on the 15th hole to claim two crucial points after his team had fallen behind. The following day, Los Angeles continued their momentum. Although Jupiter Links initially surged ahead behind Tiger Woods, the opposition quickly levelled the score and then reeled off four straight points. A pivotal 10th hole saw both teams activate ‘THE HAMMER’ for a maximum three-point swing, with Justin Rose defeating Max Homa to help seal a 9–2 victory and lift the SoFi Cup.

With Los Angeles Golf Club crowned champions, TGL’s Season 2 drew to a dramatic close. Looking ahead to Season 3, the league will expand to seven teams with the addition of Motor City Golf Club based in Detroit, furthering its ambition to build a premier global stage for team golf competition.