The Rubber Board, which is observing its 77th anniversary this year, organised a press conference to showcase a novel method developed by the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) for recovering high-quality rubber from skim latex.

The new technique creates rubber lumps by treating the skim latex with a specific chemical mixture for 24 hours, then allowing the acid to coagulate. After that, these lumps may be dried and turned straight into skim crepe. About 3–4 percent of the rubber used to make Centrifuged Latex (Cenex) is skim latex, a by-product of the process. Cenex is frequently used in the production of goods including balloons, condoms, and gloves. About 10 percent of the natural rubber produced in India is converted into Cenex via centrifugation, which is accomplished at more than 40 centrifuging facilities.

The current method for recovering skim rubber is the acid coagulation of skim latex, which produces a slurry of skim rubber. After being packed into many plastic sacks, this slurry is allowed to solidify and dewater for two weeks. Skim crepe is made by further processing the resultant skim powder. But this traditional approach is labour-intensive, unrefined and results in bad odours, and it only generates rubber of poor grade. It has also caused public outcry and legal conflicts in the vicinity of Cenex enterprises, and it presents difficulties for wastewater treatment facilities. With the innovative method created by RRII, plastic bags are no longer used and processing takes only twenty-four hours. In addition to improving environmental sustainability and guaranteeing full recovery of premium rubber from skim latex, it drastically reduces offensive odours.

The Federation of Latex Processors (FLP), a group of owners of centrifuged latex factories, has been granted access to this technology on a fee basis. Other organizations and Cenex units can also purchase it. The product is marketed as Indian Purified Skim Rubber (IPSR) by the Rubber Board, which is also working on a patent for the concept. Rubber companies nationwide have expressed a strong interest in employing IPSR in product manufacture as it provides a competitive edge because of its improved quality and reduced cost.

Several efforts to solve various problems that exist in the rubber value chain were also addressed at the press conference. At the press conference, it was revealed that a nationwide celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the National Institute for Rubber Training (previously the Rubber Training Institute) would be organised, with participation from all relevant parties. M Vasanthagesan IRS (Executive Director, Rubber Board), Dr T Siju (Rubber Production Commissioner), Dr M D Jessy (Director-in-Charge, Rubber Research Institute of India) and representatives of the Federation of Latex Processors were in attendance.

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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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Continental is establishing a groundbreaking industrial process for recycling complex rubber waste through a strategic acquisition of key patents and the launch of a new pilot facility. This initiative, led by its ContiTech division, leverages advanced pyrolysis technology to transform end-of-life rubber products into valuable raw materials, creating a sustainable alternative to fossil resources.

The core of this innovation is a thermal decomposition process where waste rubber is heated in a low-oxygen environment. This breaks the material down into its core chemical constituents, one of which is a high-quality oil with properties mirroring traditional crude oil. This output is particularly significant as it can be directly used in the manufacture of new plastics and rubber goods, effectively closing the material loop.

A major historical obstacle for the industry has been the difficulty of recycling vulcanised rubber, whose altered chemical structure resists conventional separation methods. Pyrolysis successfully circumvents this challenge, cleanly decomposing the material to recover not only oil but also carbon black and other energy sources. The widespread adoption of pyrolysis has been hindered until now by the complexity of purifying its outputs to meet industrial standards. Continental’s new facility, originally developed by British start-up LowSulphurFuels, directly addresses this hurdle with a specialised purification process, making large-scale rubber recycling both technically feasible and economically attractive.

This advancement is especially critical for complex rubber products like composite hoses and specialised seals, which were previously nearly impossible to recycle efficiently. By converting this challenging waste stream into a high-grade resource, Continental is driving progress towards a circular economy. This move also reinforces the company's position as a leader in sustainable innovation, complementing its extensive patent portfolio and ongoing projects focused on material recovery and developing eco-friendly solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors.

Dr Michael Hofmann, Chief Technology Officer, ContiTech, said, “With this technology, we’re closing a crucial gap in the circular materials economy: we’re able to recover high-quality raw materials from rubber waste, which we can then feed back into the chemical material cycle to create new products without relying on crude oil. We’re thus demonstrating how innovation can become the driving force behind sustainable industrial processes – and how a previously untapped raw material cycle can be made economically viable.”

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Following a resolution by its Board of Directors on 29 August 2025, Zeon Corporation has formally revised the total investment for its upcoming cyclo olefin polymer (COP) production plant. The new total investment is now projected to be approximately JPY 78.0 billion (approximately USD 525.70 million), a significant increase from the initial estimate of approximately YEN 70.0 billion (approximately USD 471.77 million) announced in June 2024.

This upward revision is attributed to anticipated increases across key construction areas, including rising costs for labour, raw materials and equipment. The updated financial framework incorporates both confirmed and projected cost escalations to ensure accurate budgeting. Zeon Corporation intends to fund the entire investment through a combination of internally generated capital and loans from financial institutions.

The new facility remains on schedule for completion in the first half of fiscal year 2028. Due to this timeline, the substantial investment is not expected to materially affect the company's consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2026. The project is a central pillar of the company’s medium-term business strategy, identified as a major future growth driver.

The decision to proceed with the plant underscores the strong market outlook for Zeon’s cyclo olefin polymers. These advanced materials are prized for their superior optical clarity, extremely low water absorption and high purity. While already established in applications like optical films and lenses, demand is growing rapidly from the medical and semiconductor industries. By expanding its production capacity, Zeon aims to capitalise on this robust and expanding demand, thereby strengthening its market position and enhancing its corporate value over the medium to long term.

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