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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Pirelli has chosen the softest trio in its range for the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft. This departs from last year, when a compound step using the C2 as Hard proved less appealing than the softer alternatives. The second round of the Americas triple-header takes place at the circuit named after brothers Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez, unique on the calendar due to its altitude of over 2,000 metres.

A large portion of the circuit has been resurfaced, covering Turn 16 to Turn 1 and Turn 7 to Turn 16, leaving only the first sector largely unchanged. New asphalt normally brings higher grip and lower roughness, though its actual characteristics will need assessment during the opening stages. The track is often dirty early on, with grip improving lap after lap, and that evolution could be more pronounced this year.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has traditionally been one of the least demanding circuits on tyres, with low-speed corners and limited lateral loads keeping wear under control. The thin air reduces aerodynamic load, increasing tyre slip and making graining a factor to watch, possibly more so with the smoother asphalt. The circuit's low severity could favour a one-stop race, though tyre management to extend stints will remain important, particularly for the rear axle.

Strategy may depend more on driver confidence in a compound than on genuine tyre life limitation, with some teams favouring softer compounds for grip and others the Hard for consistency. The Soft could play a central role, having shown strong characteristics on low-severity circuits. Braking performance also warrants monitoring, as the altitude reduces aerodynamic efficiency and the long main straight into Turn 1 could increase lock-up risk. Last year's grid was split between one-stop and two-stop strategies. This will be the sixth Grand Prix under the Mexico City Grand Prix name, with Max Verstappen the most successful driver at the venue with five victories, matching Red Bull. The Pirelli Podium Cap celebrates Día de los Muertos, which falls on race Sunday.

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Mitas marked its entry into Chinese agriculture with an official brand ceremony held on 27 October at the National Exhibition Center in Tianjin, during CIAME 2026, the China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition. Customers, partners and industry figures attended the event, which introduced the international tyre maker and its agricultural portfolio to the local market.

Bringing close to 100 years of tyre manufacturing experience and enduring ties with farmers and equipment builders around the world, the company presents Chinese customers with a commercially available international option built on proven agricultural knowledge, technology and dependability. The dedicated exhibition booth featured the HC 2000 and SFT CHO. The former, a VF tractor tyre, delivers high load capacity at low inflation pressure alongside efficient traction and diminished soil compaction, achieved through a large contact patch and even load distribution. The latter, engineered for demanding cyclic-load duties, pairs high load capacity and low inflation pressure with a broad footprint for gentle ground handling. Both models demonstrated the brand's dedication to proven engineering and high-value performance for contemporary agriculture.

Going forward, the company plans to strengthen its Chinese footprint by collaborating closely with equipment manufacturers, distributors and farmers, deepening understanding of local applications and addressing the evolving requirements of Chinese agriculture.

Roberta D’Agnano, Global Marketing Director Mitas at Yokohama TWS, said, “Entering the Chinese market means bringing the strength of an established international brand to a new customer base. Mitas combines nearly a century of agricultural expertise with proven tyre technology and a clear focus on dependable performance. Our ambition is to establish Mitas as a reliable partner for Chinese farmers, distributors and equipment manufacturers, offering solutions that help them get the most from their machinery.”

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has published its 2025 End-of-Life Tire Market Report, continuing a biennial series begun in the early 1990s. With over 30 years of figures on tyre generation, destination markets and stockpiles, the study stands as the nation's most thorough accounting of what happens to tyres after they leave the road.

Of the 273 million tyres retired nationwide in 2025, some 79 percent were absorbed by end-use markets. Only lead-acid batteries surpass tyres as a recycled and reclaimed material; paper, aluminium, glass and PET plastic all trail behind. The result is that valuable rubber stays in productive circulation rather than accumulating in landfills.

Abandoned and illegal stockpiles shrank to roughly 42.1 million tyres, compared with about 48 million two years earlier – a 12 percent drop in that span and a 96 percent fall from the billion-tyre high of 1990. Colorado's cleanup effort accounted for much of the gain, eliminating over 12 million tyres, while New Jersey and Pennsylvania recorded large reductions. North Carolina, Tennessee and Delaware cleared their stockpiles entirely, and land disposal declined nearly 11 percent to 779 thousand tonnes.

Tyre-derived fuel stayed the biggest outlet, taking about 1,317 thousand tonnes, with ground rubber just behind at roughly 1,201 thousand tonnes. Cement kilns consumed about 5 percent more, reaching 821 thousand tonnes – 62 percent of all tyre-derived fuel – as carbon-reduction mandates and the fuel's biogenic nature enhance its appeal. Reclamation applications expanded by roughly a tenth.

Most declines arose from forces outside the industry's influence. Pulp and paper mill shutdowns halved nothing less than 40 percent of that outlet, while revised Michigan energy rules trimmed utility boiler demand by about 22 percent. Synthetic turf continues yielding ground to cork, coconut husk and olive pit infill; moulded and extruded goods eased from a 2021 high; and energy price swings have shifted tyre-derived fuel's competitiveness. Exports, however, climbed 270 percent since 2023 – from 253 thousand tonnes to 936 thousand tonnes – making them the third-largest outlet, driven by India's rapid growth and sustained fuel shipments to Japan and South Korea. USTMA urges exporters to confirm that receiving markets are environmentally sound and economically viable.

Near-term investments include Tire Recycling Foundation-backed environmental product declarations, wider chip seal use, advances in dry-process rubber-modified asphalt and pavement funding. Kentucky devoted over USD 1.16 million in 2025 to nine county rubber-asphalt projects, and California opened USD 6.57 million in grants for fiscal 2025–26. Pyrolysis is now quantifiable as it reaches commercial scale, and the Tire Recycling Foundation is growing into a platform for education, research and demonstration. State-level stockpile figures accompany the report on the ELT Report page of the association’s website.

Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO, USTMA, said, “This report gives a picture of a market in transition. Stockpile cleanup continues, and 79 percent of end-of-life tyres reached end-use markets. At the same time, several domestic markets contracted, and the rise in exports shows strong demand for this material outside the US Together, those trends tell us our markets still depend on a handful of large industrial outlets, and that market development has to be the priority. The data points to where the work is needed, and much of that work is already underway.”

Amelia Chucholowski, Associate Director, Sustainability and Recycling Policy, USTMA, said, “International demand further demonstrates that this material has real value, but our priority is domestic circular end-use markets, because a tire processed here supports a US recycler, US jobs and US infrastructure. That includes ensuring that domestic processors have adequate feedstock. We’re watching it closely and working with our global partners both to understand what’s driving this trend and to report it transparently.

“The work that actually grows these markets is underway right now, and almost none of it shows up in a 2025 market report. Read this report as a snapshot of 2025. What we’re building now will be measured against in the future. State programmes have built one of the country’s great recycling success stories. 96 percent of the tyre stockpiles that existed in 1990 are gone, and the lesson is clear: when states fund their programmes, enforce the rules and invest in markets, results follow. The next chapter is about markets. The more states invest in uses like rubber-modified asphalt, the more tires become roads, products and energy here at home.”

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PRINX CHENGSHAN showcased a lineup of agricultural tyres under its Chengshan brand at the 2026 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (CIAME 2026) in Tianjin on 26 October. The display featured tyre solutions tailored to modern agricultural needs, with emphasis on large-scale field cultivation and fall harvesting applications.

Rising performance demands across smart, high-end and environmentally sustainable farming have prompted the company to steadily expand its research and development investment in agricultural tyre applications. PRINX CHENGSHAN has built a comprehensive portfolio for large agricultural machinery, including tractors and combine harvesters, delivering integrated solutions for varied operating conditions along with service support spanning the entire product life cycle.

The TX600 and TX700 radial tyres, intended mainly for tractors, each offer distinct advantages. The TX600 pairs large tread blocks with a proprietary cut- and puncture-resistant rubber compound, ensuring stable driving, dependable handling and puncture resistance during high-speed transfers between work areas. The TX700 employs a high-strength carcass and belt construction to deliver strong load capacity and traction, even in muddy, difficult fields.

For combine harvesters, the TX2000 raises load capacity by 20 percent through high-flexion characteristics, while its low inflation pressure and larger contact patch lessen soil compaction, reconciling efficient operations with farmland protection. The TB500 bias-ply tyre, a notable addition to the tractor range, features a deep tread and large, robust blocks for excellent traction, wear resistance and puncture resistance, sustaining stable, slip-resistant performance in mud and gravel.

Looking ahead, PRINX CHENGSHAN plans to continue advancing agricultural tyre innovation, targeting the evolving requirements of modern equipment and practical field challenges. The company aims to collaborate closely with partners throughout the agricultural machinery supply chain to enhance the quality and efficiency of modern farming and support a stronger agricultural sector and greater food security in China.

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