India
The first phase of construction at the new Lanxess rubber chemical plant in Jhagadia, India has been completed. The German specialty chemicals firm reports production at the Gujarat state facility has begun following a building time of less than two years. The site will now supply India’s growing tyre and rubber industry and export markets with ‘Vulkanox’ brand antioxidants.
World carbon black demand is forecast to rise 4.3 per cent per year every year until 2013, according to research published by Bharat Books. The report suggests annual demand will reach 11.6 million metric tonnes in 2013 bolstered by a healthy global rubber market in the same period. 60 per cent of demand is said to come from tyre applications. Carbon black demand from the tyre sector is projected to increase 3.7 per cent a year through 2013 to 6.9 million metric tonnes.
Belgium steel cord manufacturer Bekaert states that capacity increases in China, India and Russia, and the planned integration of the tyre Bridgestone tyre cord plants (in Sardinia, Italy and in Huizhou, China) acquired earlier this year will lift the company’s total tyre cord capacity from its present level of 625,000 tons to an estimated 700,000 tons by the end of 2010. The bulk of this increase will occur in China, where capacity will rise from its current level of 350,000 tons to 400,000 tons.
Indian manufacturer Apollo Tyres has completed its second Vehicle Dynamics Workshop in the southern Indian city of Chennai. Apollo began the Workshop two years ago as a biannual platform for auto and tyre-makers, tyre testing authorities and homologation bodies to discuss vehicle dynamics, its facets, complexities, issues being faced and ways and means of addressing them. The company says the Workshop comes at a time when regulations across the world are being tightened, and both car and tyre makers are actively seeking ways to bring out products, which meet customer needs of safety, fuel efficiency, price and comfort while applying environmentally safe options.
The Press Trust of India writes that the country’s government is “likely” to implement an anti-dumping duty on bus and truck radials imported from China and Thailand. The Commerce Ministry’s Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), it reports, has recommended a US$90 duty per tyre.
It appears tyre manufacturers in India do not see eye to eye with the country’s vehicle manufacturers on the subject of anti-dumping duties. These tariffs, introduced in January and applied to imports of radial tyres from China, have been criticised by major automakers such as Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, who say plans to expand have been affected by a shortfall in commercial vehicle radial capacity within India.
Israel based supplier of pre-owned tyre and rubber industry machinery Pelmar Engineering Ltd. recently announced its Group Board has nominated Hagai Peled to take over the role of managing director, a position he commences following “five years of successful management positions in various departments.” In February the son of company founder Jacob Peled visited Germany to attend both the Tire Technology Expo and a meeting of Pelmar Engineering managers from around the world. During the exhibition he gave an overview of Pelmar’s global business and the options it provides for tyre businesses wishing to set up or expand.
A memorandum sent by India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) to the nation’s finance ministry outlines the tyre industry’s hopes for a reduction in natural rubber duties. Reuters reports that the memorandum, sent in advance of the national budget, states “the customs duty on natural rubber should be reduced from 20 per cent to 7.5 per cent, lower than the duty on tyres.” At present natural rubber attracts a customs duty twice that of tyres, making imports more competitive than locally produced tyres.
India’s Tata Motors reports its commercial vehicle production has been reduced by between five and ten per cent since January due to a shortage of radial tyres and other key components. This disclosure follows one from Ashok Leyland, who was forced to decrease production by 20 per cent for similar reasons.
Despite recording a net income 70.9 per cent lower than that of the previous year, Michelin managing general partner Michel Rollier appeared satisfied enough with the company’s 2009 financial results to comment that “in an environment shaped by a historic decline in tyre demand, especially in mature economies, Michelin was able to respond quickly and more agilely than ever. Thanks to the dedicated commitment of our teams and tight management, Michelin has delivered robust performance and improved its major financial metrics, the foundations of its future growth.”
Apollo has ended its key sponsorship deal of India’s quest to find the country’s first tennis Grand Slam singles champion by 2018. A statement issued by the company praised the “stellar performances” of the children taken on by the programme, and said the decision to end its sponsorship was “regrettable” and “extremely unfortunate”, according to The Hindu in India.
Goodyear India Ltd. rose 20 per cent – its daily limit – in Mumbai trading after the company said its parent offered to acquire all outstanding shares for 245 rupees apiece, reports Tire Review. As many as 32,039 equity shares changed hands so far, as compared to a two-week average of 8,569 shares.
Pelmar Engineering Ltd. has appointed Enrique Guix as area sales director for the Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal and South American markets. Guix worked for rubber machinery firm Gumix, S.A. in Barcelona, Spain for more than 17 years before Farrel Corp. acquired selected assets from Gumix, S.A. in 2006 in order to establish Farrel Spain, S.L., where Guix worked until the end of 2009.
Indag Rubber Ltd is India’s longest-established manufacturer of pre-cure tread rubber. The company has been engaged in the production of tread rubber and other retreading materials such as bonding gum, vulcanising solution and curing envelopes since 1982, and manufactures its pre-cure tread under the ‘Zoma’ brand name. Indag also produces un-vulcanised rubber strip gum, universal spray cement and envelopes.
The Press Trust of India reports the country’s government has imposed anti-dumping duties upon imported carbon black used by the rubber industry in an attempt to protect the domestic industry against from cheap shipments from China, Australia, Thailand and Russia. The import duties range from US$0.084 to $0.423 per kilogram, India’s Central Board of Customs and Excise (CBEC) said in a statement.
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