Now one of the largest tyre-producing countries in the world, China has an indisputable influence on the direction of global tyre trade. The home of both fast-growing up-and-coming brands as well as a burgeoning domestic market, this tag chronicles China’s involvement with the tyre business.
On 12 September 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published its fourth batch of green manufacturing lists. The list includes 602 green factories, 371 green design products, 39 green parks and 50 green supply chain management demonstration enterprises.
Environmental campaigners have been protesting against Linglong’s Zrenjanin, Serbia tyre factory. At the same time the construction work, which has been variously described as either an 800 million euro or US$994 million project by different sources, has also been involved in certification disputes.
Double Coin Tires engineers praised the benefits of Eastman’s Eastman Crystex Cure Pro insoluble sulphur alongside scientists from the chemicals manufacturer Eastman during a joint speech at the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) conference on 15 September. Around 200 professionals from tyre-related enterprises gathered at the conference to discuss the latest industry technologies and market status.
Tym International will cease trading from 30 October 2020, effectively winding up the tyre import and wholesale business specialising in Far Eastern-produced and OTR tyres. Writing in a letter dated 8 September, managing director Steve Eke explained “the decision to cease has been forced upon the company by others that control the majority of the shares in the business”. Tyres & Accessories understands that the combination of recent business pressures caused by EU anti-dumping truck tyre tariffs and then coronavirus caused major shareholders to withdraw their investment.
In spite of COVID-19, Prinx Chengshan managed to increase its net profit in the first half of 2020, a feat aided in part by a prompt response to the pandemic. Sales revenue for Prinx Chengshan (Cayman) Holding Limited and its subsidiaries in the six months to 30 June 2020 came to RMB 2,844.0 million (£317.2 million), 1.0 per cent less than in the same period of 2019. Gross profit rose 9.9 per cent year-on-year to RMB 606.3 million (£66.7 million) and net profit increased 1.6 per cent to RMB 265.3 million (£29.2 million).
Following the news that Yanchang Rubber-produced Duraturn brand Travia AT SUV and light truck tyres have been recalled in the US, company representatives have confirmed that the measure should only affect the American tyre market.
Across the Atlantic, Chinese tyre manufacturer Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group Rubber (trading under its Duraturn brand name) is recalling thousands of Duraturn Travia A/T tyres in a move that could see as many as 33,466 products returned. The recall has been called due to manufacturing issues which could result in the separation of the tread or inner-liner from the tyre.
Hella and the Minth Group have announced a joint venture, which will be funded equally. The company, Hella Minth Jiaxing Automotive Parts Co. Ltd., will promote the development, production and marketing of radomes (absorbent covers for radar systems) and illuminated logos. It has a production facility in Jiaxing and will have an international scope, with an initial focus on the Chinese market. Subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities, the joint venture is scheduled to start operations in Autumn 2020.
Sailun Tire has entered into a partnership agreement with China’s Apex Motorsport. The deal, signed on 21 August by Apex Motorsport’s Jin Yi and Chen Zheng, deputy director of Sailun Motorsport, gives Apex global sales rights for Sailun Sports Tires including the full range of Sailun Gene R tyres. Sailun believes this agreement marks its “successful shift from the prosumer market to the consumer market following three years of racing events that put Sailun Tire products to various stringent tests.”
Linglong Tire signed a cooperation agreement with the Jinan Municipal People’s Government on 17 July 2020. As a result, Linglong Tire will settle its research and development and technological innovation base in the central district of Jinan. According to the agreement, the two parties will cooperate in terms of science and technology as well as personnel matters. The relevant leaders of Jinan and Linglong’s chairman and president Wang Feng attended the signing ceremony.
Triangle Tire USA has named Brad Wurst as senior development engineer of A3T, the company’s technical centre in Akron, Ohio. Wurst joins Triangle from Smithers where he has worked since March 2018. Prior to Smithers, Wurst spent more than seven years with Cooper Tire & Rubber, including a one-year assignment as a truck tyre development engineer at the company’s facility in Shanghai, China. Before that Wurst was spent 20 years with Bridgestone Americas.
Puncture proof tyres are said to be increasing demand – despite criticism from recycling associations of such products. In line with this trend, according to media reports Hankook is significantly expanding its self-sealing production capacity in China.
Cabot Corporation is planning to invest US $90 million in upgrading its Ville Platte, Louisiana carbon black factory. According to various US news sources, the project will capture waste energy to create steam from an incineration process, remove impurities and generate electricity to power site operations. Cabot is expected to create 15 new jobs in addition to the existing workforce of 90 at the site as a result of the investment.
Kenda Rubber Industrial has been producing bicycle and motorcycle tyres at its Indonesia plant since 2015. According to local media reports, the Taiwanese manufacturer now wants to move production capacity from China to Indonesia.
ZC Rubber is launching its second generation of Westlake WSA2LT, WAS2, WDA2LT, WDA2, WSM2 and WDM2 all-steel truck and light truck tyres into the European market effective 1 July 2020. According to the company, the range is designed for “European fleets who seek both tyre performance and cost saving”.
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Tym International
Prinx Chengshan
Duraturn
Sailun Group
Linglong
Hankook
Cabot
ZC Rubber