Nokian Tyres has signed a development agreement with Reselo AB to further develop Reselo Rubber as a potential new raw material for tyres. Reselo Rubber is an entirely renewable material made from birch bark sourced from the residue of the global pulp, paper and plywood industry.  

Nokian Tyres and Reselo AB first collaborated through Nokian Tyres’ FAST RACE, BIG CHANGE sustainable tyre innovation challenge. After initial testing, the potential of Reselo Rubber as a tyre material was established. The companies will now work together to develop the material to meet the demanding requirements of commercial tyre production.

“According to the initial laboratory tests we have conducted on Reselo Rubber, it has great potential to replace traditional fossil-based materials in tyres. Furthermore, the material is not only renewable, but we believe it may also be used to improve the tyre’s performance features. We are excited to develop it further in cooperation with Reselo and hope to have Reselo Rubber in Nokian Tyres tyres in the future,” says Heini Siekkinen, Senior Manager, Research & Sustainability from Nokian Tyres.

“We are proud and excited to join forces with Nokian Tyres to improve the sustainability of the largest rubber industry segment even further. The partnership with Nokian Tyres marks an important milestone in our ambition to revolutionise the rubber industry with a high-performing bio-based rubber,” says Henrik Otendal, CEO and one of the founders of Reselo.

One of Nokian Tyres’ key sustainability goals is to have 50 percent of the raw materials in its tyres renewable or recycled by 2030. In June 2024, the company demonstrated the use of UPM BioMotion, a groundbreaking new renewable material, in its concept tyre, Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna. In August 2024, Nokian Tyres’ factory in Nokia, Finland, obtained the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS, enabling the company to introduce new sustainable, ISCC PLUS-certified raw materials into its tyres.

The partnership with Reselo AB is a significant step towards Nokian Tyres’ sustainability goals and highlights the company’s commitment to developing innovative and sustainable tyre solutions.

“We believe that Reselo Rubber has the potential to be one of the steps on our journey towards our goal and are glad to have Reselo as a partner supporting our quest,” says Teemu Soini, VP of Innovations & Development from Nokian Tyres.

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ContiTech, a group sector of Continental, has officially launched production at its new USD 90-million hydraulic hose manufacturing facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This significant investment is a strategic move to reinforce local supply chains, boost regional production capacity and position innovative fluid power solutions closer to its customer base across North America.

The new 900,000-square-foot plant will produce high-performance hoses for numerous industrial and mobile applications, serving vital sectors such as construction, agriculture, mining and energy. It has been designed to operate in a tightly coordinated network with ContiTech’s existing facility in Norfolk, Nebraska. This dual-plant strategy enhances production flexibility, improves operational efficiency and allows the company to be more responsive to evolving customer demands by strategically balancing technology, volume and lead times.

This expansion underscores ContiTech's long-term commitment to growth in key markets through substantial investment in local infrastructure and talent. Production at the Aguascalientes site will be gradually increased, with the first customer deliveries anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Philip Nelles, Member of the Continental Executive Board and CEO of the ContiTech group sector, said, “The start of production in Aguascalientes marks a key milestone in ContiTech’s journey towards being a more agile, regionalised partner to our customers. At ContiTech, we build on 150 years of materials expertise. While our portfolio is broad and diverse, all our solutions are grounded in the same strength: high-performance materials that are mission critical, innovative and engineered to perform. Whether they connect, convey or cover, our products play essential roles across industries and applications.”

Andreas Gerstenberger, CEO of ContiTech USA and Head of Business Area Industrial Solutions Americas, said, “We are ready to lead in this segment. This new plant reflects our commitment to both innovation and proximity. With our customers increasingly looking for responsive and innovative solutions, we are proud to deliver with local production, advanced technology and a skilled workforce. More than just expanding our footprint, this investment is about creating mutual value with our customers, partnering closely to help them succeed in their own markets. By placing customer needs at the centre of everything we do, we aim to be their first choice for material-driven solutions, now and in the future.”

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Vipal Rubber, a leading global producer of retreading rubber, has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation with the launch of its new V SUPER HYBRID technology. Available from 1 March 2025, this new compound is designed to redefine performance standards for mixed-terrain applications, offering enhanced mileage, durability and resistance for retreaded tyres across various fleet sizes.

The V SUPER HYBRID achieves a superior balance between on-road and off-road performance. It has proven effective in demanding sectors such as logging, grain and livestock transport, demonstrating robust capabilities across diverse operating conditions. Key advantages of the innovation include improved resistance to chipping and punctures, enhanced casing protection that extends tyre service life, lower environmental impact through increased tread utilisation and significant operational cost savings for fleet operators.

Field tests substantiate these claims. In one trial involving a high-torque truck on steep, unpaved terrain, tyres with V SUPER HYBRID technology showed an 11.5 percent increase in mileage over a standard market compound while maintaining structural integrity with no signs of breakage. Furthermore, the same technology demonstrated the potential for up to a 140 percent mileage increase over conventional compounds in continued testing. The tread's regular wear pattern also allowed for better depth utilisation, enabling tyres to remain in operation down to 5-6 mm, compared to the previous limit of 12 mm. Another test with a grain and livestock truck confirmed these results, documenting a 12.5 percent performance gain across different tread designs.

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Kuraray Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Kuraray Co., Ltd., has inaugurated the Kuraray Asia Pacific Centre in Singapore's Science Park. This new facility will function as a dedicated technical support hub for the Asian market. Its primary focus will be on providing specialised expertise for growing regional demand in PVOH resin, EVAL EVOH resin and activated carbon products.

Equipped with advanced material evaluation and analysis laboratories, the centre is designed to deliver prompt and tailored solutions to meet specific local customer requirements. It will also act as a platform for open innovation, fostering collaborative development and product demonstrations to generate new value.

By establishing itself within the concentrated research environment of the Singapore Science Park, the centre aims to accelerate market development and attract global talent through strategic partnerships. This initiative is a key part of the Kuraray Group's strategy to address emerging customer needs, explore new applications and strengthen its overall business expansion throughout the region.

Lim Wey-Len, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board, said during the opening ceremony on 1 September: “We welcome Kuraray and other like-minded companies to leverage Singapore’s innovation ecosystem, talent pool, and regional connectivity to scale impactful and sustainable solutions from here.”

Tomoyuki Watanabe, Director and Managing Executive Officer, and President of the Vinyl Acetate Resin Company at Kuraray, said, “By offering a place for co-creation with our customers, we hope to drive the rapid market growth in the region.”

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

According to the report, natural rubber prices exhibited significant volatility in July. This instability was driven by a combination of adverse weather conditions impacting production, ongoing geopolitical tensions and international trade tariffs. After an initial phase of ample supply and muted demand, market sentiment shifted as concerns over potential supply disruptions prompted a notable increase in purchasing activity.

The report further projects a modest global production increase of 0.5 percent for 2025, while demand is anticipated to grow by a slightly higher 1.3 percent. However, this growth is expected against a challenging backdrop of a potential global economic slowdown. Complex US tariff policies and their widespread ripple effects are primary factors contributing to what may become one of the most subdued years for economic expansion since the pandemic.

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