Pyrum GreenFactory II GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pyrum Innovations AG, has secured approval to begin early construction of its new tyre recycling plant in Perl-Besch. This marks Pyrum’s second independently operated facility, expanding its recycling footprint in Saarland. The plant will occupy a 25,000 m² site near the Germany-France-Luxembourg border, with an annual capacity to process 22,400 tonnes of end-of-life tyres.

The location offers strategic logistical advantages, including access to the Moselle River, existing rail connections and nearby highways, facilitating efficient transport of raw materials and recycled products. Pyrum is currently evaluating multiple delivery routes to optimise operational efficiency and minimise environmental impact.

With the early construction approval now in place, the company can immediately initiate tender processes. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for July 2025, with commissioning targeted for the first quarter of 2027, assuming construction stays on schedule. The new plant reinforces Pyrum’s commitment to sustainable tyre recycling and circular economy solutions in the region.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “Now that the permits have been granted, nothing stands in the way of breaking ground. Our second own plant marks the next important step in our rollout plan. We are delighted to finally be able to move on to the construction phase. With the new plant, we are not only doubling our recycling capacity, but also setting another example for sustainable tyre recycling.”

Kai Winkelmann, CFO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “The first part of the EUR 25 million credit line from BASF, which was agreed at the end of 2023, will be used in particular to finance the equity share of the new plants in Perl-Besch and the Czech Republic. In addition, we are in advanced, positive discussions with various financing partners, including a major European bank. If the financing talks are successfully concluded, both projects would be fully financed and the basis for accessing the second part of the loan granted by BASF in the amount of an additional EUR 25 million would also be established. This would provide the company with additional financing in the high double-digit million range for further projects in the rollout plan.”

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Orion S.A., a leading global speciality chemicals producer, has been honoured with 10 safety awards by the International Carbon Black Association (ICBA) for outstanding workplace safety performance across its manufacturing facilities. The ICBA praised Orion for setting industry benchmarks in employee health and safety through its Safety Recognition Programme, which evaluates verified operational data from the previous year.

Eight Orion plants received Gold Awards, meeting stringent criteria including global safety certifications and zero regulatory citations. These facilities are located in Belpre (Ohio, USA), Berre-l’Étang (France), Huaibei (China), Ivanhoe (Louisiana, USA), Jaslo (Poland), Paulinia (Brazil), Ravenna (Italy) and Yeosu (South Korea). Additionally, Orion’s Orange (Texas, USA) and Qingdao (China) plants earned Bronze Awards for achieving zero ‘Lost Work Day’ cases – a key metric for occupational safety.

Orion CEO Corning Painter said, “Safety is our highest priority at our sites and throughout our company. As we continue to focus our capital investments more on maintenance and reliability across our global operations, we expect to build on our success with safety.”

Carlos Quinones, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Orion, said, “The ICBA’s recognition reflects our employees’ unwavering commitment and belief that achieving a consistently injury-free workplace is both attainable and a core value of our company.”

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for May 2025.

According to an association statement, this month's significant volatility in natural rubber prices was mostly caused by an increase in tapping activity brought on by favourable weather. However, there are serious worries about the tyre industry's declining demand, which is made worse by trade tariff uncertainty.

Due to talks between the United States and China that took place in the middle of the month, trade tensions have decreased this month. A more stable trading climate has resulted from these talks, which have also promoted a more cooperative environment and may have lessened earlier disputes, the statement added. Here's a summary of the latest trends in the NR sector:

According to recent reports from ANRPC member nations (AMC), worldwide NR output will increase by a small 0.5 percent in 2025 over 2024. In 2025, the demand for NR is anticipated to rise at a slower rate of 1.3 percent. The report also emphasises that a slowdown and some correction in demand are anticipated, particularly from the United States, Mexico and the rest of the world. The statement goes on to say that the anticipated slowdown in growth is the result of growing worries about a possible global economic downturn, which are impacted by the difficulties surrounding US tariffs and the likelihood for decreased trade activity with higher import costs for rubber goods.

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Yokohama Rubber completed enforcement action to halt the production and distribution of counterfeit versions of its “ADVAN Racing” aluminium wheels in China following a coordinated investigation with local authorities.

The Japanese tyre and wheel manufacturer filed an administrative complaint with the Municipal Administration for Market Regulation in Anlu City, Hubei Province, after uncovering a local manufacturer producing unauthorised copies of its high-performance wheels for sports cars.

Authorities in Anlu conducted a raid at the site in November 2024, seizing all counterfeit wheels. A subsequent investigation led to the identification of another company that had commissioned the counterfeit production. Administrative penalties were imposed on the ordering party, including a fine and an order to cease all illegal activity and surrender any remaining fake products.

This marks Yokohama Rubber’s latest successful enforcement action in China. The company had previously filed complaints targeting distributors of counterfeit wheels, resulting in the removal of fake products from the market.

“Yokohama Rubber remains resolute in its stance against the infringement of intellectual property rights, including the production and sale of counterfeit goods, and will strengthen its efforts against such illegal activities in Japan and overseas to ensure that its customers around the world are confident and secure in the knowledge that they are using genuine YOKOHAMA products,” the company said in a statement.

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Japanese chemical manufacturer Tosoh Corporation announced plans on Wednesday to construct a second chloroprene rubber production facility at its Nanyo Complex, representing an investment of approximately ¥75 billion (£460 million) to meet rising global demand for the speciality polymer.

The new facility, scheduled to begin construction in spring 2027, will add 22,000 metric tonnes of annual production capacity for Tosoh’s SKYPRENE chloroprene rubber brand. Commercial operations are expected to commence in spring 2030 at the Shunan City site in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Chloroprene rubber serves as a critical component across multiple industries, from automotive manufacturing to medical applications. The synthetic rubber’s popularity stems from its exceptional resistance to oil, weather conditions, and flame exposure, making it suitable for demanding applications, including automotive hoses, industrial belts, adhesives, and medical gloves.

The expansion comes as global demand for high-performance polymers continues to grow, driven by increasing automotive production and stricter safety requirements across industrial sectors. Medical applications have also seen increased demand following heightened awareness of the requirements for protective equipment.

Tosoh’s decision to double down on chloroprene rubber production reflects the material’s position within what the company terms its “Chemical Chain Business” - a strategy focused on value-added speciality chemicals rather than commodity products.

The investment represents one of the larger capacity expansion projects announced by Japanese chemical companies this year, signalling confidence in long-term demand fundamentals despite current global economic uncertainties.

The Nanyo Complex already houses Tosoh’s existing chloroprene rubber operations alongside other chemical production facilities. The site’s established infrastructure and logistics capabilities influenced the decision to expand at the existing location rather than develop a greenfield facility.

Industry analysts note that the three-year construction timeline reflects the technical complexity of chloroprene rubber production, which requires specialised equipment and stringent safety protocols due to the chemical processes involved.

The expansion aligns with broader trends in the Japanese chemical industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on high-margin speciality products to offset competitive pressures in traditional commodity chemicals from lower-cost Asian producers.

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