Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), the Indian off-highway tyre manufacturer, reported a five percent year-on-year volume growth in Q3 FY25 while announcing plans for INR 11 billion to INR 12 billion capital expenditure in FY26.

The company achieved sales volumes of 76,343 metric tonnes for the quarter, with standalone revenue growing 11 percent to INR 25.71 billion.

"We are confident and hold on to our forecast of achieving minor sales volume growth in this financial year," said Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, despite challenging market conditions in Europe, the company's largest market contributing 43 percent of total sales.

Expansion and Investment Plans:

- Completed 30,000 MTPA advanced carbon material plant in September 2024

- Progressing on 35,000 MTPA OTR tyre range expansion

- First phase of OTR expansion to complete in H1 FY26

- FY25 capex at INR 9.68 billion for nine months

- Projected FY26 capex between INR 11- 12 billion

"The speciality carbon business samples are being given and tested. It will take time to ramp up," said Madhusudan Bajaj, Senior President, Commercial and CFO, regarding the new carbon black facility targeting plastics, ink and paint industries.

Strategic Growth Initiatives

The company strengthened its management team by appointing Satish Sharma as Senior President for Strategy and Business Development. The company has also set a vision to achieve 10 percent global market share in the off-highway tyre market.

"We are constantly investing in the capex and the growth of the company, whether it is in terms of promotion, in terms of product mix, in terms of setting up new capacities," Poddar explained when asked about capital allocation strategy.

Market Performance

In the Americas, where BKT has been focusing its efforts, the company is seeing positive results. "We are quite hopeful that this should stabilize and continue to grow over there," Poddar said regarding the American market outlook.

The company maintains approximately 6-7 percent market share in India's off-highway segment, with agricultural tyres reaching about 10 percent market share. "Agri would be closer to 10 percent, and the others are growing up," noted Poddar.

Raw Material Outlook

"The raw material prices are going up for 100 to 200 basis points, it should impact the margins," said Bajaj, adding that the major impact would be visible in the coming quarter due to shipping lag times.

Regional Distribution (9M FY25):

- Europe: 43%

- India: 29%

- Americas: 16%

- Rest of World: 12%

Segment-wise contribution showed replacement sales at 73 percent, OEM at 25 percent, with agriculture contributing 59 percent of total sales, followed by OTR, industrial, and construction at 38 percent.

Looking ahead, while maintaining caution about European market conditions, BKT continues its expansion strategy across markets, particularly in the Americas and emerging regions, backed by sustained investments in capacity and brand building.

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Continental has emerged as the dominant force in the 2026 independent European summer tyre tests, securing 13 outright wins and 19 podium finishes across 24 evaluations conducted by leading automotive publications and mobility organisations. The results span a diverse range of tyre segments and test conditions, reinforcing the German manufacturer’s reputation for consistent top-tier performance.

The company’s tyres excelled particularly in braking, wet grip and overall balance, showing reliability across vehicle classes from sustainable products to ultra-high-performance applications. Independent testers repeatedly highlighted Continental’s strong braking performance, high levels of wet adhesion and well-rounded driving behaviour, confirming its premium ambitions.

Among the standout achievements, the PremiumContact 7 was named overall winner in the Auto Zeitung UHP summer tyre test, praised for its balanced wet and dry handling. The SportContact 7 claimed first place in the Auto Bild sportscars UHP test, recognised for precise handling and shortest braking distances. Meanwhile, the UltraContact NXT achieved a leading position in the AvD summer tyre test, proving that sustainability-focused designs can deliver strong core safety performance.

Continuous development in tread design, compound technologies and tyre construction underpins these results, allowing a blend of safety, efficiency and driving dynamics. The 2026 test season ultimately demonstrates Continental’s ability to deliver reliable top-level results across a broad portfolio and a wide range of independent evaluations.

Andreas Schlenke, Tire Expert at Continental, said, “These results confirm the consistency of our product performance across different segments and test conditions. They show that our focus on braking, wet grip and overall balance translates directly into strong results in independent testing.”

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Hankook Tire is supplying its Ventus F200 racing tyre to the HWA EVO.R sedan, competing in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, taking place from 14 to 17 May in Germany. Serving as the Official Technology Partner of HWA AG, Hankook is providing technical assistance throughout the race weekend with the Ventus F200 fitted to the HWA EVO.R in the open SP-X class for high-performance tuned vehicles. The racing slick is engineered for dry conditions and aims to deliver stable performance under extreme endurance racing demands.

Recognised globally in motorsport, the Ventus F200 incorporates advanced compound technologies that enhance driving performance and achieve roughly a 10 percent weight reduction over its predecessor. The tyre offers strong grip, high-speed stability and precise handling under demanding race conditions. HWA AG, founded by former Mercedes-AMG Co‑Founder Hans Werner Aufrecht, is a noted global motorsport engineering company specialising in high‑performance vehicle development.

This collaboration expands an existing strategic partnership, following Hankook’s original equipment tyre supply for the limited‑production HWA EVO last year. Hankook currently provides several ultra‑high‑performance OE products for that model, including the Ventus evo Z, Ventus evo and Winter i*cept evo3. Moving forward, Hankook plans to strengthen its premium brand competitiveness by deepening cooperation with HWA AG in both OE and motorsport sectors.

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HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has secured a place on the Dow Jones Best-in-Class (DJ BIC) Korea Index for three years running, marking consistent recognition from the S&P Global benchmark for corporate sustainability. This index, released by a major global financial information provider, is known as a highly trusted gauge of ESG performance. Membership is limited to the top 30 percent of companies per industry, drawn from the two hundred largest listed firms in South Korea by market value.

In a related achievement, the company also appeared in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2026 for the second straight year. The latest assessment reviewed over 9,200 businesses across 59 industries worldwide, and HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS earned a Yearbook Member designation by placing within the top fifteen percent of its global industry.

To drive these results, the firm has built an ESG framework on four pillars: Zero Fatality for safety, Zero Emission for carbon reduction, Zero Waste for circular resource use and Zero Impact for stakeholder accountability. Senior management directly oversees a Sustainability Management Committee and specialised subcommittees, ensuring that ESG strategies are implemented across the entire organisation to boost corporate value.

Jim Jindal Lim, CEO, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS, said, “Our inclusion in DJ BIC Korea for three consecutive years and our second consecutive listing in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook demonstrate that HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has consistently implemented meaningful changes for sustainable management. We will continue strengthening our response to climate change and enhancing our corporate social responsibility.”

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Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), attended the TRA & TLA Dinner 2026 on 8 May 2026. The high-profile gathering was jointly organised by the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) and the Thai Latex Association (TLA) at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers and key stakeholders from across the rubber and latex sectors to foster professional relationships and examine the shifting dynamics of the global natural rubber market.

The event served as a critical platform for Dr Angthong to engage in high-level discussions on market sustainability, trade relations and technological advancement. Particular attention was given to the long-term viability of rubber production, improving synergy between producers and exporters and the growing role of latex processing in the modern economy. His presence highlighted the ANRPC’s dedication to supporting member countries through close cooperation with national associations.

Thailand continues to hold a foundational position in the global natural rubber industry. The partnership between the TRA and TLA acts as a key driver of both innovation and regional stability, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts to navigate the evolving market landscape.

Dr Angthong said, "Events like the TRA & TLA Dinner are essential for maintaining the pulse of the industry. It is through these partnerships that we ensure the natural rubber sector remains resilient and forward-looking."

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