German specialty chemicals company Lanxess has reported its financial performance for Q1 CY2025, with EBITDA pre exceptionals climbing by 31.7 percent to EUR 133 million (from EUR 101 million in Q1 2024), which the company shared defied a weak global economic environment.

The positive performance was attributed to improved capacity utilisation and significant cost savings achieved through its ‘FORWARD!’ action plan.

While sales remained stable at EUR 1.601 billion, nearly matching the prior-year figure of EUR 1.607 billion, Lanxess noted increased sales volumes in most businesses, offset by lower sales prices.

Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management, Lanxess, said, “We have made a solid start to the new fiscal year – despite all the adversities in the economic and geopolitical environment. Our more efficient positioning and improved cost situation are now paying off.”

He also acknowledged the escalating geopolitical and economic uncertainties, including the new U.S. government trade policy, which he believes further challenges businesses.

Net income for the first quarter of 2025 showed improvement, recording a loss of EUR 57 million compared to a loss of EUR 98 million in the same period last year.

Lanxess has reaffirmed its guidance for the full 2025 fiscal year, anticipating EBITDA pre exceptionals to be between EUR 600 and EUR 650 million. For the second quarter of 2025, the company expects an increase in earnings compared to Q1 2025, though a decline is projected when compared to Q2 2024, primarily due to the divestment of its Urethane Systems business.

The German company has also completed the sale of its Urethane Systems business to Japan’s UBE Corporation on 1 April 2025. This transaction marks the final step in the company’s strategic portfolio transformation, shifting its focus entirely to specialty chemicals and divesting its last remaining polymer business. Proceeds from the sale will be utilised to redeem a EUR 500 million benchmark bond due in May 2025 and further reduce company debt.

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Linglong Tire convened 120 European dealers in Milan from 10 to 13 October for its European Partner Conference, where CEO Lingkun ‘Andy’ Zhou and Vice President Yongchao ‘Aaron’ Xu outlined the company's latest developments, fiscal performance and future strategy. Zhou noted that despite a difficult and volatile market, Linglong achieved sales growth in the first half of 2026, crediting close cooperation with its European distribution partners.

Global Marketing head Kai You introduced the upcoming ‘Linglong Hub’ dealer programme, which offers quantity-based unit bonuses and tailored marketing packages such as POS materials to support in-shop sales. Andreas Krause, Head of Research and Development in Europe, presented forthcoming products from the Linglong, Crosswind and Leao brands, available from spring 2027, including the all-season Dura Master Van 4S and Leao Nova Force Van 4S for vans and campers, alongside the flagship UHP Linglong Sport Master 2.

Guests then travelled to Villongo, northeast of Milan, for the official opening of Western Europe's first Linglong Tire Center, inaugurated by Zhou together with Sebino Pneus owner Gigi Pezzotta and Fintyre Sales Director Renato Paghera. The fully branded facility is seen as a benchmark for further centres planned across Italy and Europe. The day continued at the Alfa Romeo Museum, a Stellantis brand and key original equipment customer, ending with a gala dinner featuring live Italian music.

The following day, dealers tested the Sport Master 2 at the Balocco test site near Milan, a 550-hectare facility with over 80 km of track, using various Mercedes-Benz and AMG models before a race taxi ride with a professional driver. The event closed with dinner and a dance and music show at El Porteno, setting the stage for the 2027 conference in London.

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Infiniteria Europe and Aliapur, a French State-approved eco-organisation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue an agreement for supplying end-of-life tyres to two planned Infiniteria recycling plants in France. The MoU outlines intentions for a long-term supply arrangement in which Aliapur would furnish the end-of-life tyres needed to operate both facilities.

The agreement creates a framework for a secure, reliable and sustainable long-term supply chain and provides a foundation for continued development of both projects. Shortlisted sites are being assessed, with environmental impact studies under way. The partnership marks a significant milestone for the projects and reflects both companies’ shared commitment to recovering valuable secondary raw materials from end-of-life tyres, developing more circular industrial value chains and increasing tyre recycling capacity in France.

The collaboration combines Aliapur’s material recovery experience with Infiniteria Europe’s recycling solution development expertise. Both companies aim to build a strong long-term partnership supporting tyre recovery and recycling in France, and they look forward to further strengthening their collaboration as the projects advance through subsequent development stages.

Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, CEO, Infiniteria Europe, said, “This MoU brings our two planned plants in France one step closer to realisation. They will form an important part of our broader ambition to build Europe’s leading business in circular tyre recycling, transforming end-of-life tyres into valuable resources for new uses.”

Mathieu Chardin, Managing Director, Aliapur, said, “Aliapur is proud to have been selected by Infiniteria Europe, an industrial company with proven expertise in tyre pyrolysis technology, as a strategic partner for the supply of raw materials to its future plants in France. This partnership also supports our commitment to France’s reindustrialisation and ecological transition, two priorities at the heart of the Government’s strategy for a more resilient, competitive and sustainable industry.”

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ETRTO held its 62nd General Assembly on 2 October in Nantes, France, drawing strong attendance from Full members and Experts, alongside the TNPF (Travaux de Normalisation des Pneumatiques pour la France) team, UNECE GRBP Chairman, a JATMA delegation and several Honorary members.

The Assembly approved a name change from European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation to European Tyre, Rim & Valve Technical Organisation while retaining the ETRTO acronym. It also endorsed all 80 Technical Subcommittee resolutions, set for inclusion in the 2027 Standards Manual and Engineering Design Information publications, and amendments to ETRTO Recommendations, due for free publication on the ETRTO website in five languages.

Christian Lerner (Continental) and Peter Roest (Apollo) were elected President and Vice President, respectively, for 2027. Presentations covered UNECE GRBP tyre regulatory trends and TNPF’s role in the French regulatory landscape, while Technical Subcommittee chairmen outlined activity highlights and future trends. ETRTO also demonstrated its new Data Portal, available for the Passenger Car tyre section from early 2027.

Appreciation was extended to Jérôme Barrand (Michelin, current ETRTO President) for organising the Assembly and to TNPF for hosting the Gala Dinner. The 63rd ETRTO General Assembly is scheduled for 1 October 2027.

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Sri Trang Group has been recognised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its efforts to promote financial and investment literacy among employees. Pacharin Anuwongwattanachai, Company Secretary of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), and Thanawan Sa-ngiamsak, Chief Financial Officer of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Public Company Limited (STGT), accepted the ‘Organization Promoting Financial and Investment Literacy for Employees’ certificates on behalf of their respective companies. The ceremony, held under the SEC's Financial Well-being in Workplace project, took place at the Royal Thai Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok on 9 October 2026.

The SEC accolade underscores Sri Trang Group's dedication to sustainable business practices, especially the social pillar of sustainability that prioritises comprehensive care for employees' quality of life and well-being. STA advances financial, investment and savings literacy through structured and ongoing financial education programmes. All eight categories of the SEC's online financial and investment lessons have been integrated into the companies' self-learning platforms, allowing staff to build skills independently. Training sessions with SEC experts cover financial and investment planning for salaried employees as well as retirement planning for those aged 50 and above and investment planning tailored to individual needs.

Disciplined saving is further encouraged through income and expense tracking, financial health check-ups and discussion groups in which employees exchange insights on managing provident fund investments with expert guidance. These measures help staff strengthen financial security, ease financial worries and sustainably improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. The approach reflects the Group's care for its people alongside its commitment to good corporate governance, aligning with annual reporting disclosures and the corporate governance assessment criteria for Thai listed companies.

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