India needs to increase the area under rubber cultivation on a war footing to meet the domestic demand, reduce the dependence on imports, and restrict the outgo of foreign exchange, urged Dr Sawar Dhanania, Chairman, Rubber Board.

NR production in India will not be sufficient to meet the consumer industry's demands as consumption is expected to reach 1500,000 tonnes by 2025-26. Imports presently meet the production-consumption gap, and that involves a huge amount of foreign exchange outgo, said Dr Dhanania during his presidential address at the 181st meeting of the Rubber Board held at Kottayam.

As per Dr K N Raghavan IRS, Executive Director, NR production in the country improved to 775,000 tonnes during 2021-22 compared to 715,000 tonnes during 2020-21, recording a growth of 8.4 percent compared to an increase of 0.4 percent registered during the previous year. An increase in yield, tappable area and area tapped during the year contributed to the rise in NR production.

India is already exploring non-traditional areas, including North East and traditional regions, to increase rubber cultivation. The                             

Board has identified a vast stretch of land in North East and West Bengal for rubber cultivation.

Under the'NE-MITRA project, ATMA and Rubber Board signed an MOU to develop 2 lakh hectares of rubber plantations in North East India with an approved outlay of INR 10 billion and spend INR one billion for quality improvement of rubber produced. Meantime, the efforts for extra income generating activities like beekeeping, intercropping etc., should be continued. Dr Raghavan added that promoting the rubber wood industry and carbon trading is the need of the hour to make a green environment and bring sustainability to the rubber sector.     

The area under rubber during 2021-22 was 826,660 ha. Though the tappable area under rubber was 718,800 ha during 2021-22, only 526,500 ha (73.2 percent) has contributed to the NR production during the year. The average yield, measured in terms of production per hectare of the tapped area increased to 1,472 kg/ha in 2021-22 from 1,442 kg/ha in the previous year.

India consumed 1,238,000 MT of NR in 2021-22, an increase of 12.9 percent from 1,096,410 MT consumed in 2020-21. The auto tyre sector registered 15.9 percent growth during 2021-22, against 3.2 percent recorded during 2020-21. At the same time, the general rubber goods sector registered 5.6 percent growth during 2021-22 compared to a high negative growth of 16.4 percent recorded during 2020-21. Auto-tyre manufacturing sector accounted for 73.1 percent of the total quantity of NR consumed in the country during 2021-22. The projection of NR production and consumption for 2022-23 is 850,000 tonnes and 1290,000 tonnes, respectively.

Import of NR increased to 546,369 tonnes during 2021-22 compared to 410,478 tonnes during 2020-21. 60 percent of the import was through duty paid channel. 87.5 percent of import was in the form of block rubber. The primary reason for importing huge quantities of this commodity is the gap between the quantity of NR produced within the country and that required by the consuming industry.

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Trinseo has launched the Fourth-Generation SBR Binder Platform, designed to meet the evolving demands of electric vehicle and battery energy storage systems. This new technology underscores the company’s commitment to advancing high-performance materials for the global energy transition.

Created in close partnership with battery producers, the platform leverages sophisticated polymer science to deliver stronger electrode adhesion, enhanced energy density and greater overall durability. It achieves up to thirty percent higher peel strength than previous binder technologies, which facilitates thicker electrode coatings and faster manufacturing speeds – critical factors for improving battery capacity and extending vehicle range. The first offering under this platform, VOLTABOND 109 Latex Binder, provides exceptional versatility, performing reliably across various anode materials and supporting diverse cell designs and production environments.

In addition to boosting performance, the platform ensures improved high-temperature stability and reduced internal resistance, contributing to faster charging and long-term operational reliability. With manufacturing capabilities established across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America, Trinseo reinforces both supply chain resilience and regional support for battery producers worldwide.

This fourth-generation system is built upon decades of expertise in emulsion polymerization, setting the stage for future product developments tailored to different segments of the battery market.

Andre Hugentobler, Global VP Technology and Innovation, said, “Our Fourth-Generation Binder Platform represents a leap forward in materials innovation for both EV and ESS markets. It demonstrates how Trinseo’s polymer expertise and global manufacturing capabilities enable our customers to accelerate the next wave of electrification – safely, efficiently and at scale.”

Arthas Yang, Senior Vice President, Latex Binders, said, “This platform positions Trinseo to deliver differentiated solutions across multiple customer tiers and market segments. It reflects our ongoing investment in high-growth, high-value markets and our commitment to advancing mobility and energy solutions.”

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Flexsys has created what it says is the tyre industry’s first practical and scalable alternative to 6PPD, marking a major step toward replacing a chemical used for decades but now under regulatory pressure.

The company said the new antidegradant is the result of several years of research and testing with federal laboratories, independent scientific groups and tyre makers. Early results show the material could match the performance and safety of 6PPD while avoiding the environmental risks linked to 6PPD-quinone, a transformation product identified in 2020.

Flexsys said the new chemistry provides the short- and long-term protection needed to stop tyres cracking or ageing. It is also designed to fit into existing rubber compounds with minimal changes, which could help manufacturers adopt it quickly. The company added that the product meets environmental and regulatory benchmarks, including criteria set by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Importantly, the new molecule is not part of the “PPD” family, meaning it does not form quinone during use. Flexsys said this would remove the environmental impact associated with 6PPD-quinone. The company is also using many of the same intermediate chemicals already used in 6PPD production. This could allow manufacturers to rely on existing factory assets and speed the shift to the new technology.

“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to responsible innovation, built on decades of expertise in tire protection chemistry,” said Carl Brech, Chief Executive Officer of Flexsys. “Our solution is formulated to deliver the performance and reliability that tire makers expect and is designed for future environmental and regulatory standards.”

6PPD has been essential to tyre durability for 50 years. But studies published in 2020 showed that 6PPD-quinone could harm aquatic species, including coho salmon. Regulators and tyre producers have been looking for a safer option since then. Flexsys said its new antidegradant meets this challenge without reducing tyre safety.

“Our team set out to develop a next-generation antidegradant that meets the tire industry’s highest performance standards without compromising tire safety, while also reducing toxicity,” said Neil Smith, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer. “I could not be more proud of the perseverance and dedication of the Flexsys R&D team. Our group has been highly motivated by both the technical challenges of this project as well as the positive societal impact that this work will ultimately have.”

Flexsys acknowledged support from the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub in Akron, Ohio, part of the U.S. EDA Tech Hubs programme.

The company is now working on process optimisation to allow large-scale production. It is also in discussions with regulators around the world to secure approvals for commercial use. Testing with tyre makers is continuing.

“Flexsys is helping set the direction of the tire industry for the coming decades with this development,” Brech said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to bring this breakthrough to the market as soon as possible.”

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Wacker Chemie AG has strengthened its position in China’s fast-growing market for silicone specialities by opening a new application development centre with joint-venture partner SICO Performance Material in the eastern city of Jining.

The 2,300-square-metre facility brings together several laboratories focused on organofunctional silanes, which are used as high-performance additives in plastics, coatings and adhesives. By locating the centre next to SICO’s production and scale-up lines, Wacker aims to shorten development cycles and move new products into the market more quickly. The companies said investment in the site is in the mid-six-figure euro range.

Tom Koini, who leads Wacker’s silicones division, said the opening marks an important step in its China strategy. “As a provider of innovative silicone specialties and solutions, we can use this development center to achieve a key milestone for our business in China. Our focus is on high-margin specialty silanes, for which demand in China is rising continuously. This investment together with our partner SICO strengthens our presence and commitment to the region,” he said.

Wacker, which took a majority stake in SICO in 2022, is seeking to build a larger share of China’s specialty chemicals market, where demand for hybrid polymers has increased for years. These materials help improve the mechanical and chemical properties of adhesives, sealants, coatings and engineered plastics, all of which are used in sectors such as electric mobility, electronics and power equipment.

At the opening ceremony, SICO General Manager Kevin Qu called the centre an investment in the long term. “We can now pool all of our silane expertise here at our application development centre. This know-how ranges from chemical product properties and supply chain matters through to questions of process engineering and current marketing trends. We will leverage this in-depth knowledge to develop forward-looking innovations for our customers. This marks a new chapter of success in the history of our joint venture,” he said.

The companies said the centre will act as a link between research, technical service and manufacturing teams. Scientists will focus on developing additives, adhesion promoters and stabilisers based on organofunctional silanes and functional silicone fluids.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for October 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

According to the report, the global natural rubber market in October was characterised by a distinct bearish trend in pricing. This decline can primarily due to a significant surge in production and export activities, which were initially stimulated by the higher prices seen earlier in the year. Meanwhile, overall demand has remained relatively subdued.

Looking ahead to the full year, projections indicate a modest 1.3 percent increase in global production for 2025, a figure that follows a recent downward revision for Indonesia. On the demand side, consumption is anticipated to grow by a slight 0.8 percent, influenced by an upward adjustment to Indonesia's consumption data. Despite the current price pressures, market sentiment shows some mixed signs of improvement, particularly within the tyre trade of certain specific markets.

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