Yokohama Rubber has reported new findings from an international research programme aimed at combating leaf fall disease, a fungal infection that has disrupted natural rubber production in Indonesia, the world’s second-largest supplier.

The results were presented on 9 December at the fifth Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting held at Universitas Indonesia. The initiative, formally titled “Development of Complex Technologies for Prevention and Control of Rubber Tree Leaf Fall Diseases”, forms part of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development, a scheme run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency with support from Japan’s foreign and education ministries.

The project brings together Japanese industry, government and academic institutions, including the national research agency RIKEN, with Indonesian partners. Its objective is to maintain output from smallholders, who account for more than 90 per cent of Indonesia’s natural rubber production. The programme is pursuing several approaches: pesticide-based disease control; the development of disease-resistant clones; and early detection using satellite and drone imagery.

Yokohama Rubber, which uses natural rubber as a principal raw material for tyres, has been involved since the project’s launch in 2020. The company began assessing pesticide effects on rubber quality in 2024, following a screening process. Field tests on large plantations have shown that correctly applied pesticides do not impair the properties of raw or vulcanised rubber. Yokohama Rubber is now contributing to research on how such treatments may affect smallholders.

The group said its “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber” incorporates support for participants across the supply chain, including small-scale farmers. It expects its role in the project to aid the sustainable production of natural rubber and help stabilise smallholder incomes. Yokohama Rubber is also an official partner in a separate SATREPS initiative on using rubber seeds to develop environmentally focused products intended to mitigate global warming and plastic pollution.

Under its sustainability theme, “Caring for the Future”, the company has emphasised links between its commercial activities and broader environmental and social objectives.

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has sounded an alarm over an exceptionally difficult economic situation facing the rubber sector. Soaring raw material prices and persistently high energy costs, exacerbated by the Iran war, are coinciding with weak industrial demand. wdk Chief economist Michael Berthel noted an almost unprecedented economic disparity, as raw material costs approach historical highs from 2011 and 2022 while a lack of demand prevents any offset for manufacturers.

Since the final quarter of 2025, prices for key inputs have risen sharply. Natural rubber has jumped more than 40 percent within months, while butadiene-based synthetic rubbers have increased over 30 percent. EPDM synthetic rubber, carbon black and oil-based plasticisers have all risen more than 20 percent, with some individual chemicals exceeding 40 percent cost growth in just a few weeks.

Energy prices remain a major burden, with Middle East developments fuelling market uncertainty. Risks to international transport and supply chains persist, and German rubber companies are closely watching potential impacts on raw material availability and global logistics flows.

Berthel warned that firms face mounting pressure from high costs, geopolitical instability and structural disadvantages in Germany, with no short-term relief in sight. The industry depends heavily on fair and reliable partnerships across the value chain, as processing companies alone cannot absorb the current strain. He called for fair solutions and a shared understanding of this exceptional situation.

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The Rubber Board of India has confirmed the continuation of all existing central sector schemes for the 2026-27 fiscal year at unchanged rates. Financial aid for new planting will be restricted to estates utilising poly bag or root trainer plants sourced solely from Board-approved nurseries, with applicants required to submit the original purchase bill. This mandatory verification step aims to ensure quality and authenticity of planting materials used across the sector.

Support for rain guarding and spraying operations will be channelled exclusively through Rubber Producers’ Societies. These societies must include GST bills for all acquired materials when applying. The official timeline for submitting applications will be announced separately by the Board, giving producers adequate time to prepare documentation and coordinate with their respective societies before the deadline.

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The Rubber Board of India has announced a temporary engagement for a young professional within its Market Promotion Division, located at the RRII campus in Puthuppally, Kottayam. The selected individual will assist with division activities and promote ‘mRube’, the electronic trading platform for natural rubber.

Candidates must hold an MBA in Marketing or Agri Business Management with computer knowledge, while skills in digital marketing, sales or market research and proficiency in English and Hindi are preferred. Applicants aged up to 30 years as of 1 May 2026, will be considered for the one-year role, which offers a consolidated monthly pay of INR 25,000.

Interested individuals should send their applications to the Deputy Director (Marketing) at the Central Laboratory Building, RRII, Rubber Board PO, Kottayam – 686009 by 19 May 2026. Shortlisted names will appear on the Rubber Board’s website with interview details, as no separate communication will be sent.

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Bekaert has officially finalised its acquisition of Bridgestone’s tyre reinforcement operations in China and Thailand, after securing all necessary regulatory approvals and meeting standard closing conditions. The deal, now fully completed, marks a significant step in the Belgian company’s expansion strategy.

The transaction brings under Bekaert’s control two production facilities: Bridgestone (Shenyang) Steel Cord Co., Ltd. in China and Bridgestone Metalfa (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand. These plants specialise in manufacturing high-quality tyre cord products exclusively for Bridgestone tyres, and they will continue to supply Bridgestone under the new ownership, further deepening the longstanding partnership between the two firms.

Financially, the acquisition is expected to add roughly EUR 80 million to Bekaert’s annual consolidated sales. The EUR 60 million cash consideration for the deal was funded from the company’s available cash reserves.

Curd Vandekerckhove, CEO Rubber Reinforcement, said, “With the completion of this acquisition within our Rubber Reinforcement division, we are pleased to officially welcome the plant teams in China and Thailand to Bekaert. Our immediate focus is on a smooth transition and operational continuity while continuing to serve Bridgestone as a key strategic partner. The completion of the acquisition further strengthens the position of Bekaert in the tyre cord market, expands the global manufacturing footprint and deepens our longstanding partnership with Bridgestone. A long-term supply agreement ensures continued delivery of high-quality tyre reinforcement within a trusted supplier model.”

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