It was only many years later that we learnt about the atrocities and the inhuman ways the natives of the Amazon Valley were subjected to by the white barons to develop exporting of natural rubber to Europe to provide the main raw material for the automotive tyre industry which was gradually evolving in to a flourishing industry. The inventing of synthetic rubber in the late 1940s and the development of SBR  due to the short supply of natural rubber from the colonies  in the East to cater for the growing demand for tyres used in the military vehicles during the Second World War and the Korean War is another episode of beyond the border commercial endeavours.

Although the word ‘globalisation’ was coined by Theodore Levitt in 1983 through an article ‘Globalisation of Markets’ which appeared in the Harvard Business Review  (May-June 1983), I feel that we should go way back in the annals of history to get an understanding of the term. This knowledge may not look attractive to the modern business world. Nevertheless, the sociologists and others of similar disciplines will certainly find such knowledge useful in comprehending the modern day socio-economic woes.

Origins of globalisation may possibly be traced back to early human migrations, presumably from the Olduvai George Gorge, a site in Tanzania that holds the earliest evidence of human ancestors. Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another, particularly different countries, with the intent of settling temporarily or permanently in the new location. It typically involves movement over long distances. The driving motive, namely seeking dominance over fellow men and exploiting the natural environment to achieve success, does not seem to have changed over the millions of years.

The emergence of the great civilisations, e.g. Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and their subsequent decline can be attributed to globalisation. Similarly, the invasions and cross-border military conquests of historical fame (or notoriety) such as that of Alexander the Great and colonisation by the West for the exploitation of natural wealth in Asia, Africa and South America reveals an ugly facet of globalisation.

The Silk Route interlinking East Asia and Southeast Asia with South Asia, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Southern Europe, on the other hand, was central to the economic, political, cultural and religious interactions between these regions form 2nd century BCE to the 18th century.

The industrialisation and expansion of business and commerce across countries during the past 300-plus years was fuelled by the four industrial revolutions, or waves as some prefer to identify them, namely steam power, conveyor system, computers and digitalisation. The process is continuing to the unforeseeable future with new knowledge and innovations fuelling the globalisation.

The multifaceted nature of globalisation has commonly been identified into eight types as shown below:

•           Political Globalisation

•           Social Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Technological Globalisation

•           Financial Globalisation

•           Cultural Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Geographical Globalisation

My intention is not to delve in to a discussion about the pros and cons of globalisation, which has been comprehensively documented, but to highlight on some key aspects from this part of the world, especially of the Asian subcontinent.

Knowledge dissemination across border, in my view, is the single most important factor associated with globalisation. This appears common to all the above types of globalisation. The dissemination of the Buddhist doctrine by the great Emperor Asoka to countries spreading from the far East to the Central Asia and Middle East including the present Sri Lanka during 3rd century BCE is one of the earliest recorded instances of globalisation.

Countries with long histories going back to 3,000 to 4,000-plus years, such as India, China and Sri Lanka, possessed a vast knowledge base ingrained in the social consciousness. This appears to have significantly influenced the philosophical and intellectual thought of the Greek and Persian periods. Unfortunately, a major part of this knowledge has been eroded through the influence of the West, which started around the 16th century. One good example of this knowledge found in the ancient irrigation knowledge of Sri Lanka is the engineering  marvel of a gradient of 1 inch per mile in an ancient canal about 87 km long,  built to connect two man-made reservoirs in the 5th century AD. Similarly, India and Sri Lanka possessed a vast indigenous knowledge base in medicine, astrology, architecture, agriculture, irrigation and astrology, and it is somewhat unfortunate that this knowledge has not been adequately globalised. The only significant inroads are seen in tourism. But that too are based on the western norms.

On the other hand, we have acquired a vast knowledge from the industrialised countries on modern management thoughts and technologies which have enabled industrialisation and improvement in living conditions of the populace. In this era of interdependency, a country cannot afford to ignore the technologies which are necessary to maintain a suitable level of competitiveness internationally. However, if this is accomplished at the expense of ignoring the inherent social and cultural foundations, the long-term adverse consequences would be disastrous and unimaginable.

The adverse long-term consequences of the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and the global addiction to pharmaceuticals are already seen physically and socially in practically all the countries, especially the so called underdeveloped or developing countries.

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the irreversible effects of global warming are two examples of globalisation which are affecting the mere sustenance  of mankind.

A country can immensely benefit by striving for stars through adopting modern technologies. However, the absolute importance of a strong base cannot be ignored or taken lightly. Back to a strong base and reinforcing the base lies at the core of sustainable development.

The words of Mahatma Gandhi echoing from the past reaffirm this plain truth in no uncertain terms.

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”

“What's past is prologue," a quote from William Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ presumes that though history is written, the future is anyone's to decide – with the knowledge gleaned from the past. (TT)

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Yokohama Rubber reported record sales and profit for fiscal 2025, marking a fifth consecutive year of growth, as higher tyre volumes and a stronger product mix offset one-off costs linked to an acquisition.

Sales revenue rose 12.8 percent year on year to USD 8.2 billion. Business profit increased 24.0 percent to USD 1.11 billion, while operating profit advanced 28.3 percent to USD 1.02 billion. Profit attributable to owners of parent climbed 40.7 percent to USD 0.70 billion. The business profit margin reached a record 13.5 percent.

The company said the increase in consolidated business profit reflected strong performance in existing operations, which absorbed one-time costs related to the acquisition and consolidation of Goodyear’s OTR business. In tyres, profit rose on higher unit sales of consumer tyres and continued growth in high-value-added ADVAN, GEOLANDAR and winter tyres, alongside larger-diameter products. In the MB segment, cost reductions and structural reforms supported profitability.

For fiscal 2026, management targets sales revenue of USD 8.7 billion, business profit of USD 1.25 billion, operating profit of USD 1.15 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of USD 0.60 billion, aiming for a sixth consecutive year of sales and profit growth.

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Hankook Tire played its role as the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to perfection at the series’ recent visit to Saudi Arabia for a double-header event under the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The company’s Hankook iON Race tyre was put to the test across two nights of intense racing, where driver precision and tyre durability were critical factors. In the first of the two rounds, Pascal Wehrlein of the Porsche Formula E Team claimed victory by combining consistent speed with clever positioning on the fast and challenging street circuit. The following evening, António Félix Da Costa of Jaguar TCS Racing took the win in a race that demanded careful attention to both energy consumption and tyre preservation until the very end.

The Jeddah circuit, measuring just over three kilometres and featuring 19 turns, is designed to complement Formula E’s unique braking and energy recovery systems. It offers a mix of long straights and demanding technical sections that place significant stress on tyres. Throughout both races, the Hankook iON Race tyre demonstrated its ability to maintain strong grip under heavy loads while managing heat effectively and supporting low rolling resistance. These characteristics are vital in a championship where tyre behaviour directly influences energy strategy and overall race outcomes.

In the days following the races, Formula E hosted its EVO Sessions 2 programme, inviting a group of international digital creators to experience the GEN3 Evo race car on the same circuit. The initiative, which first launched after last year’s Miami E-Prix, has generated substantial online engagement and provided additional visibility for Hankook’s tyre technology. Participants including Khaby Lame and Behzinga took part in driving sessions, while others assumed team principal roles for the event. The Hankook iON Race once again proved its capability by delivering strong traction and stability during these high-speed demonstrations.

Looking ahead, the championship will resume in Madrid on 21 March 2026 with a race at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama. This more compact and technically demanding permanent track will present a fresh challenge, with Hankook’s iON Race tyre continuing to serve as the foundation for competitive and sustainable racing.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director, Hankook Motorsport, said, “Jeddah under the lights produced two demanding races with their own strategic patterns. Across both rounds, the iON Race demonstrated stable and consistent performance in conditions where track behaviour and tyre temperatures evolved through each session. Such tyre predictability is essential in helping teams execute their strategies on such a fast and technically complex circuit, and the data gathered here will feed directly into our ongoing iON development programme.”

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Two tyre service businesses with strong regional recognition in central Sweden and the Stockholm area, Västerås Däck and Arlandastad Däck, have been acquired by Citira, a Sweden-based company specialising in circular tyre management. These additions represent a significant step in Citira’s strategy to broaden its service network within the country.

Established in 2008 by Jalle Eriksson, Västerås Däck built a solid reputation for servicing both passenger cars and heavy vehicles, cultivating a dedicated customer base. This success led to the creation of Arlandastad Däck in 2020. The strategic placement of both facilities along the E4 and E18 corridors, combined with dedicated leadership and strong operational standards, positioned them for integration as vital service hubs within the expanding Citira network.

Daily operations at both locations will remain unchanged, with the existing staff continuing in their roles. The current management will stay on to run the businesses, now with access to Citira’s broader resources to foster future growth. As part of the agreement, Eriksson will transition into a co-ownership role within Citira, ensuring continuity and a shared vision for the businesses moving forward.

David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, “It is our privilege to welcome Jalle, Fredrik and Sofie to Citira, we look forward to working with them. The Eriksson family has made great achievements with both tyre shops and we are confident that adding these two service points will improve Citira’s service offering in both regions. We see great value in the experience that the Eriksson family brings and in the potential to operate these tyre shops alongside our current tyre shops in Västerås and Märsta.”

Eriksson said, “We are very impressed with what Citira has achieved so far. Their extensive network of tyre shops, broad service offering and industry experience will ensure that our service standards remain high going forward while enabling us to focus fully on serving our customers and exploring growth opportunities. We look forward to this partnership.”

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Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), visited the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) in Kuala Lumpur on 13 February 2026. The meeting brought together the ANRPC representative with MARGMA's Executive Director, Linda Tey and Dr Amir Hashim Md Yatim to discuss potential avenues for collaboration between their two organisations.

The dialogue was focused on strengthening ties across the natural rubber and glove value chain. Key topics included enhancing downstream value addition, promoting sustainable practices and navigating the challenges presented by evolving global market dynamics. The conversation underscored a shared interest in a closer partnership to build greater industry resilience.

Both parties expressed a firm commitment to working together to foster sustainable growth and to reinforce Malaysia's significant role within the global rubber ecosystem. The discussions highlighted a mutual dedication to forging a more integrated and competitive future for the natural rubber and products sector.

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