Left to right: Rodrigo Gabriel, CEO Grupo AG, and François Desné, Bekaert Divisional CEO Steel Wire Solutions

On 28 February 2025, Bekaert finalised an agreement to sell its Steel Wire Solutions businesses in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Venezuela to Grupo AG. This divestment aligns with Bekaert’s strategic shift away from commoditised, volatile markets towards higher-growth sectors with stronger profitability and capital returns. Following regulatory approvals, including competition clearance, the transaction was completed on 30 June 2025.

The deal valued the divested businesses at a consolidated enterprise value of USD 73 million. The proceeds will bolster Bekaert’s financial position, supporting shareholder returns and strategic growth investments. In the first half of 2025, these operations generated around EUR 60 million in revenue and EUR 4 million in underlying EBIT. Excluding a non-cash, cumulative translation adjustment of EUR -56 million due to Venezuela’s historical currency devaluations, the sale is expected to yield an estimated profit of EUR 15 million.

Post-transaction, Latin America will account for roughly four percent of Bekaert’s consolidated sales. This move reflects the company’s ongoing portfolio optimization, prioritising stable, high-margin markets while reducing exposure to less predictable regions. The successful closure of this deal marks another step in Bekaert’s long-term strategy to enhance profitability and sustainable growth.

François Desné, Divisional CEO, Bekaert’s Steel Wire Solutions, said, “The successful completion of this transaction marks another important milestone in the transformation of the Steel Wire Solutions portfolio. Equally, we are confident that our teams and customers in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Venezuela will thrive under the leadership of Grupo AG. We are proud of what we have achieved together in Latin America over the past years and wish our local teams and Grupo AG every success as they embark on this new chapter.”

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB publ has signed a letter of intent with an undisclosed partner to explore the possibility of licensing its advanced tyre pyrolysis technology for deployment in North America.

The collaboration will focus on conducting a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of establishing one or multiple facilities dedicated to processing end-of-life tyres using Enviro’s proprietary method. This study is designed to provide the potential licensee with the necessary insights to assess the prospects of entering into a long-term commercial arrangement and formal technology licensing agreement.

It is important to note that any definitive agreements will depend entirely on the study's outcomes and subsequent negotiations. At this stage, there is no guarantee that the evaluation will lead to binding commitments or that the proposed transaction will ultimately materialise.

Fredrik Aaben, CEO, Scandinavian Enviro Systems, said, “We continue to see strong international interest in Enviro’s technology, and this letter of intent is yet another proof of this.”

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, a global price increase for all polymer products with effect from 1 April 2026. The price hike will range from USD 440 per MT to USD 700 per MT, or as individual contract terms permit, with the exact price change varying according to the polymer type and production location.

The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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German specialty chemicals company LANXESS has announced a global price increase for its portfolio of functional additives for the manufacture of tyres and speciality rubbers. These changes, which are set to take effect immediately or as soon as individual contract terms permit, will see prices rise by 15 to 50 percent.

The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing geopolitical conflict, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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Orion S.A., a global speciality chemicals company, has announced a global price increase for its portfolio of speciality carbon black. These changes, which are set to take effect immediately or as soon as individual contract terms permit, will see prices rise by up to 25 percent.

In a strategic move to address persistent market volatility, the company is also implementing a variable surcharge on top of the base price increase. The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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