Just concluded 2021 will stand out as a defining year for the tyre industry in India as it embarked upon an ambitious initiative – Charting a path to greater raw material security by attaining self-reliance in natural rubber (NR) availability.
The journey to become self-reliant is not new for the Indian tyre industry. The industry was amongst the first ones to become self-sufficient much before the slogan of being Atma Nirbhar was coined. For years, India has been producing practically all the tyres it requires making it one of the few countries that are self-dependent in tyre manufacturing. Much before a vehicle is rolled out, the tyre Industry is ready with the fitments having worked out specifications and standards to the minutest details.
While India has developed globally competitive tyre manufacturing capabilities, realising the vision of being Atma Nirbhar necessitates achieving self-sufficiency of the entire value chain in view of strong backward and forward linkages.
In this context, the ATMA NR project, launched during the year, attains all the more importance. Natural rubber is a key raw material for the Indian tyre industry. Unlike the global scenario where the ratio is skewed in favour of synthetic rubber, Indian industry stands out for its unique preference for NR.
However, NR demand has been outstripping domestic supply and the gap is widening. Going forward, the situation may become more challenging for the NR Consuming interests. Imports may not be sustainable considering the strategic importance of NR as raw material and also in view of large outflows of foreign exchange that the Government has been trying to discourage.
As one of its kind initiatives that could hold a template for several other raw material intensive sectors, the NR Project is designed to implement the scheme for developing a substantial 200,000 hectares of rubber plantations in the North Eastern states financially supported by major tyre companies, represented by ATMA with technical support and coordination by the Rubber Board.
This collaborative project in PPP mode involving tyre majors, Rubber Board and financing institutions is a landmark initiative where the consuming industry would be contributing directly to the development of plantation.
The project took off early in the year with a visit to the North East (Tripura, Meghalaya & Assam) by top leadership from ATMA Member companies along with Dr KN Raghavan, Executive Director of Rubber Board in February 2021 to get a first-hand understanding of ground level situation and connect with state leadership and policy makers.
Minister for Commerce & Industry (CIM), Government of India Piyush Goyal has been the prime motivating force, mentoring the project at every step right from the inception. A meeting convened by the Minister in the month of June 2021 discussed threadbare the launch of the project and the road ahead. The CIM proposed a meeting with the chief ministers of North-Eastern states to take them on board, seek their full support and fast track the project. The CIM even offered to speak to the CMs to inform them about the wider benefits of the NR Project for their respective states.
Since availability of planting material locally in North East states was a challenge, plans were made to transport the saplings from Kerala to the North East by rail. Few thousand saplings were initially sent as a pilot which reached Guwahati in good condition.
It was an emotional moment for all the stakeholders in natural rubber sector, when the first full consignment was sent by a special train 'Bharathappuzha - Brahmaputra Rubber Express', to Azara, Guwahati, from Thiruvalla Railway Station on 10th July 21. It carried 1.33 lakh rubber saplings packed in specially designed cartons. These saplings were distributed in the NE states for planting in the identified areas.
Eventually, Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura formally launched the NR Project under Chief Minister's Rubber Mission on 14th August 21 at Pathaliaghat in Sepahijala district of Tripura and the project is shaping up well ever since.
India has emerged as a front runner as the world pursues alternatives to China in the field of manufacturing. Given the spirit of entrepreneurship backed by the policy reforms, the country is poised to play its due role in the global supply chains.
At the same time, the need for raw material security cannot be over emphasised as India looks to become the manufacturing hub of the world. It goes to the credit of the Government that it has shown keen interest in enabling policies to encourage domestic manufacturing, including tyre and allied sectors.
The fact that the ATMA NR Project could see the light of the day under the shadow of ongoing pandemic says a lot about the commitment of all the stakeholders to fight against odds. That surely augurs well for raw material security and sustainability as we welcome the New Year.
Comerio Ercole Deepens International Presence From Milan To Riyadh And São Paulo
- By TT News
- July 23, 2026
Comerio Ercole maintained a busy international exhibition schedule throughout June 2026, following its successful participation at INDEX Geneva in May. The company showcased its latest innovations for the plastics and rubber sectors at PLAST 2026 in Milan. The tour progressed to São Paulo, Brazil, for Expobor & Pneushow 2026, Latin America’s most significant rubber and tyre industry fair. This event served as a platform to reinforce ties with established local clients, engage with potential partners and discuss future collaborations.
The firm also attended Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2026 in Riyadh, a critical gathering for the Middle Eastern petrochemical market. The exhibition underscored rising regional interest in sophisticated processing technologies, consolidating Comerio Ercole’s footprint in an area investing heavily in industrial expansion.
The company hosted an official delegation from Svilajnac, Serbia, at its Busto Arsizio headquarters to bolster economic and industrial exchanges between the regions. Comerio Ercole presented its expertise in rubber and plastics machinery while fostering dialogue on innovation and future partnerships. The company thanked the Municipality of Busto Arsizio and participating organisations for facilitating the exchange.
The newly launched JET – Joint Embossing Technological Center, a venture with the Italian SIMEC Group, has attracted attention within the technical materials industry. The market outlook for the first half of 2026 remains positive, with sustained investments from tyre and rubber clients complemented by growing opportunities in plastics processing. With numerous global projects underway, Comerio Ercole acknowledged the trust placed in its engineering capabilities by customers and partners, whose collaboration remains central to its growth.
Continental Posts Strong EcoVadis Debut In New Tyre Category
- By TT News
- July 23, 2026
Continental has been awarded a gold medal in the 2026 EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, securing 84 points out of 100. This elevates the automotive supplier into the global top five percent of companies scrutinised by the Paris-based organisation. The evaluation marked a shift, as the company was examined for the first time under the ‘manufacture of rubber tyres and tubes’ classification, having previously been benchmarked under ‘parts and accessories’.
The highest scores came in environmental stewardship and labour practices, with 86 points earned in each. EcoVadis analysts weighed climate action plans, management frameworks and public sustainability disclosures. The firm's certification portfolio, procurement policies and execution of internal processes also contributed to the final rating.
Continental has boosted renewable and recycled input utilisation to 28 percent of tyre production materials as of 2025, with a roadmap calling for 40 percent by decade's end. Current lines incorporate reclaimed polyester from plastic bottles, repurposed steel, silica from agricultural ash and synthetic rubber from circular feedstocks. The group is intensifying supply web oversight through certified sourcing and binding sustainability clauses for primary vendors.
Absolute carbon output from tyre manufacturing has dropped by roughly 180,000 metric tonnes over four years, driven by cleaner energy carriers. In early 2026, Continental permanently ceased coal and heavy fuel oil combustion across its global footprint. Plants now generate process steam via green electricity, biomass, biogas and a mix of LPG and natural gas for grid stability. Since 2007, EcoVadis has expanded to over 150,000 rated entities, offering a digital platform for buyers and suppliers to compare supply-chain sustainability performance.
Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability for Continental’s Tires group sector, said, “Even in our new industry category, with its different assessment criteria, we continue to rank among the top 5 percent of companies worldwide. Our particularly strong score in the environment theme highlights the measures and management approaches we have implemented to achieve our sustainability targets – from using renewable and recycled materials to further reducing emissions at our plants.”
ANRPC To Host Sustainable Natural Rubber Forum In Kochi On 19 August
- By TT News
- July 22, 2026
The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) is convening a major sustainability forum in Kochi, India, on 19 August 2026. The day-long event, running from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM IST at the Crowne Plaza, represents a critical milestone for the natural rubber sector. Building upon the foundational discussions from the 2025 ANRPC meetings and the recent COP30 conference, the forum will unite member governments, industry leaders, non-governmental organisations and compliance bodies to advance a unified sustainability agenda.
The core objective of the gathering is to secure endorsement for the ANRPC’s Sustainable Natural Rubber Guidelines. A primary focus will be on deploying open-source traceability tools designed to facilitate compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation while ensuring that these measures do not impose additional financial burdens on smallholders and small-to-medium enterprises. The thematic discussions will be structured around environmental responsibility, including net-zero strategies, economic sustainability to protect smallholder livelihoods and fair pricing and market adaptation through sustainable finance for emerging sectors like electric vehicles and green construction.
The programme will feature five dedicated sessions covering net-zero pathways, national progress reports from India, Malaysia and Thailand and industry case studies from Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. A key panel discussion will see government representatives and supply chain actors making future commitments. Attendance is targeted at ANRPC member states, supply chain stakeholders, rubber associations, environmental groups and relevant compliance organisations.
Tolins Tyres Subsidiary Acquires Plant And Machinery For Capacity Expansion
- By Sharad Matade
- July 21, 2026
Tolins Tyres Ltd has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Terra Rubber Pvt Ltd, has entered into a purchase agreement with Cochin Reclaim and Rubbers Pvt Ltd to acquire plant and machinery as part of its capacity expansion and backward integration strategy.
The agreement, executed on 1 July 2026, involves the purchase of identified plant and machinery from Cochin Reclaim, an unrelated third party. According to the company, the acquisition is intended to strengthen Terra Rubber's manufacturing capabilities through increased capacity and greater backward integration.
Under the terms of the agreement, Terra Rubber will acquire the machinery on an "as-is, where-is" basis. The subsidiary is required to remove the equipment from Cochin Reclaim's premises within 60 days at its own expense. Ownership of each item will transfer only after full payment has been made and the machinery has been physically removed.
Tolins Tyres said the transaction is a routine purchase undertaken in the ordinary course of business and will have no impact on the management or control of the listed company. It added that neither Terra Rubber nor Tolins Tyres holds any shareholding in Cochin Reclaim.
The company also confirmed that the transaction is not a related-party transaction, has been negotiated on an arm's length basis, and that Cochin Reclaim has no relationship with the company's promoter group or board of directors.
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