Birla Carbon has inaugurated a dedicated production line at its Trecate, Italy facility, specifically engineered for the finishing and packaging of its Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM). This industry-leading circular material is produced from end-of-life tyres, and the new line enables its manufacture in large, consistent volumes. This expansion directly strengthens long-term supply security for the company’s worldwide customer base.

The Continua SCM range, including the 8000 series for tyres, rubber goods and plastics, provides a scalable sustainable solution. It allows customers to increase recycled content while gaining functional benefits such as blending flexibility and lower homologation costs. Importantly, it delivers assured regulatory compliance and consistent quality, supporting industries in their transition toward enhanced product circularity and reduced environmental impact.

John Loudermilk, President and CEO, Birla Carbon, said, “This is a pivotal moment for Birla Carbon. Continua SCM represents the most consistent, high-quality, circular material in the carbon black industry today and replaces a portion of carbon black in most rubber and non-rubber applications. It also reflects cross-industry collaboration for sustainability, with raw material sourced from our partner Circtec’s newly launched tire pyrolysis facility in the Netherlands and finished and packed at our state of-the-art processing line in Trecate. The launch of this line is a key milestone in our ambition to put back into industry 300,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually by 2030, contributing to our aspiration to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

John Davidson, Chief Sales, Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Birla Carbon, said, “The launch of the Continua SCM processing line in Trecate ramps up the availability of our circular product portfolio for customers globally. Continua SCM enables our customers to increase the use of sustainable materials in their products while maintaining the performance standards they expect. This expansion reinforces our commitment to supporting customer sustainability goals at scale.”

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) forecasts total US tyre shipments of 338.9 million units in 2026, up from 336.3 million units in 2025 and 332.7 million units in 2019. This figure beats the previous record of 337.3 million units in 2024.

Compared with 2025, Original Equipment (OE) the 2026 shipments for passenger, light truck and truck tyres are expected to change by 0.8 percent, 1.2 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively, with a total increase of 0.8 million units. Replacement passenger, light truck and truck tyre shipments are also projected to change by 0.6 percent, 0.8 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, with a total increase of 1.7 million units.

 (Note: All shipments in millions. Figures are rounded up.)

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The construction industry witnessed a significant milestone in materials innovation at the recent World of Concrete 2026 exhibition. The newest addition to Bekaert's renowned Dramix steel fibre family, the Dramix Loop, has been distinguished with the prestigious Industry Choice Award in the 'Concrete Slab Materials' category. This accolade, determined by the direct votes of industry professionals including engineers, contractors and key decision-makers engaged in construction projects, is a testament to the product's resonance with those who have hands-on experience in the field.

The recognition at World of Concrete 2026 marks a notable achievement for Bekaert, as it underscores the growing industry support for circular solutions in construction. The Dramix Loop, designed to align with sustainable development goals, stood out among a competitive field of innovators all striving towards a more environmentally responsible future. The award serves as a powerful indicator that circular economy principles are not only gaining traction but are also being embraced by the wider construction community as viable and valuable approaches to modern building challenges.

This latest honour represents another significant step forward in the journey of the Dramix Loop steel fibres. The acknowledgment from peers and professionals highlights the importance of innovation that genuinely moves the construction industry forward. Bekaert has expressed its appreciation to all those who participated in the voting process, acknowledging their role in supporting this advancement. Furthermore, gratitude was extended to the organisers of the World of Concrete for their continued dedication to showcasing and celebrating groundbreaking developments that shape the future of construction materials and techniques.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for January 2026, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

As per the report, a notable price rise was observed this month, driven by a combination of surging crude oil prices and heightened demand from tyre manufacturers, especially in China.

Below is a summary of the latest trends and data points defining the NR sector:

Global NR production is expected to rise by 2.2 percent in 2026 to an estimated 15.324 million tonnes, according to recent statistics from ANRPC member countries. Global demand for consumption is expected to increase by 1.4 percent to around 15.602 million tonnes annually.

The tyre industry's recovery indications reinforce the market's resilience in the face of several global economic headwinds. The current state of the market indicates a time of consolidation. This comes after recent price increases and before the cyclical wintering season, which runs from February to May and is traditionally characterised by a more constrained worldwide supply.

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Bekaert has achieved a significant sustainability milestone by securing ISCC PLUS certification for its steel tyre reinforcement products. This accomplishment highlights the company's dedication to driving innovation and working closely with tyre manufacturers to promote the widespread use of materials with high recycled content.

Historically, steel used for tyre reinforcement was not covered by ISCC PLUS. However, a partnership between Bekaert, ISCC and the certification body TÜV NORD successfully developed a structured certification path for tyre cord and bead wire with high recycled content. TÜV NORD played a key role by auditing Bekaert’s Burgos facility during a pilot phase, technically validating that the ISCC PLUS framework could be effectively applied to steel-based products. This validation paves the way for its wider acceptance in the tyre sector.

This certification builds upon the foundation laid by Bekaert’s own Recycled Content Standard, which previously set an industry benchmark for traceability and sustainable practices. The earlier standard's success was instrumental in encouraging ISCC to broaden its certification framework to encompass steel products. Although the Bekaert standard will remain valid during the transition, ISCC PLUS now offers a globally acknowledged system that guarantees uniformity and clear traceability throughout the entire supply chain.

This certification positions Bekaert as a leader in advancing certified tyre reinforcement, fostering industry-wide acceptance and generating shared benefits with tyre makers. For manufacturers, utilising ISCC PLUS-certified materials lends credibility to their sustainability assertions, simplifies the certification landscape and aids in meeting regulatory and market demands. Furthermore, their customers continue to gain from Bekaert’s dependable supply chain, which is now enhanced by verified sustainable sourcing.

Annie Xu, President – Rubber Reinforcement, Bekaert, said, "Achieving ISCC PLUS certification demonstrates our leadership in certified steel with high recycled content for tyre reinforcement. We are proud to have worked closely with ISCC and TÜV NORD to shape this framework, which will help our customers stay ahead of sustainability and regulatory expectations."

An ISCC representative said, "We welcome the successful completion of the certification process for steel tyre reinforcement under ISCC PLUS. This demonstrates that the ISCC framework can be applied to additional material categories while maintaining our established requirements for traceability and verification."

Samir Beqqal, Head of Carbon Traceability Business Entity Sustainability, TÜV NORD CERT, said, "Working with Bekaert and ISCC on this pilot certification was an important step towards applying ISCC PLUS principles to new material categories like steel. We are delighted that we were able to contribute our expertise to this process and help ensure that certified traceability and sustainability assurance can also be effectively extended to industrial materials now.”

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