The downward revision in the world supply outlook for 2020 is largely due to the scaling down of the outlook for Thailand and India, according to ANRPC. The outlook on the production of NR in Thailand has been scaled down by 332,000 tonnes to 4.478 million tonnes. The country’s revised outlook for 2020 represents a 7.7% decline from the previous year as against a 0.9% anticipated fall reported a month ago.

The harvesting and primary processing of rubber in Thailand are severely affected by acute shortage of labourers. The migrant labourers from neighbouring countries and those from other provinces within the country find it difficult to reach back and resume the various farm management activities including tapping and primary processing. Aggravating the situation, tropical storm ‘Noul’ damaged rubber plantations in several provinces of Thailand in the last week of September besides causing heavy rains, flash floods, and water run-offs.

In August, northern Thailand was hit by the tropical storm ‘Sinlaku’ causing flash floods in 18 northern provinces of the country. The loss in output arising from previous year’s incidence of a new fungal leaf disease is already factored in. Abnormal leaf fall resulting from fungal diseases usually impacts on the yield performance of the affected for two succeeding years.

In India, the production anticipated in 2020 has been scaled down by 42,000 tonnes to 668,000 tonnes, ANRPC study said. The revised outlook represents a 4.8% decline from the previous year as against a 1.1% anticipated increase reported a month ago. The country’s NR production sector is impacted by a burst in the number daily new cases of Covid-19 infections in the State of Kerala since the beginning of September and the abnormal leaf fall caused by the outbreak of Phytophthora leaf disease during July and August. It is reported that the incidence of abnormal leaf fall during this year is less severe compared to the previous year.

Demand fall

There has also been a fall in world consumption of NR by 11.7% y/y to 8.151 million tonnes during the first eight months of 2020 (Jan-Aug), as per preliminary estimates. Based on the revised estimates and forecasts, the world consumption outlook for the full year 2020 is marginally scaled up by 67,000 tonnes to 12.611 million tonnes by representing an 8.4% fall from the previous year. The outlook for 2020 as reported a month ago was 12.544 million tonnes by representing an 8.9% fall from the previous year.

China has marginally revised up its consumption outlook for 2020 in view of an observed earlier-than expected economic recovery and acceleration in growth. A survey conducted by Nikkei revealed that the growth has been more pronounced in the manufacturing sector. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) improved to 51.5 in September from 51.0 recorded in August and 51.3 anticipated for September, according to a survey conducted by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. The country’s automobile sector has made a major turnaround. The domestic retail sales of passenger vehicles, including minivans, SUVs and multipurpose vehicles, increased 7.4% y/y in September 2020, the third straight monthly gain. The domestic sales of passenger vehicles had increased 6.0% y/y in August 2020.

As per the revised outlook, China is anticipated to consume 5.055 million tonnes of NR during 2020, down 8.9% from the previous year. The country’s consumption outlook for 2020, as reported a month ago was 5.043 million tonnes, down 9.1% from the previous year.

India has scaled-up its consumption outlook for 2020 to 923,000 tonnes from 900,000 tonnes reported earlier in the year. Auto sales in India have made a U-turn. The domestic sales of passenger car increased 31.3% y/y in September 2020, the highest growth over the past 27 months. The trend reversal in passenger car is driven by preference for personal mobility during the pandemic, gradual opening up of markets, easing of supply-chains, labour availability, and excitement of new vehicle launches. The domestic sales of two-wheeler grew 12% y/y in September 2020, the highest growth over the past 21 months. Sales of tractor increased 16% y/y during the month, the highest growth over many years in the past.  The domestic sales of LVC (Light Commercial Vehicles) and M&HCV (Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles) declined by 3.0% each during the month, after double digit declines till August 2020.

Looking ahead, according to ANRPC, the world demand for NR will remain constrained by the uncertainties clouding the global economic recovery, acceleration in the number of new coronavirus cases, reintroduction of control measures and partial lockdowns across countries and a likely long delay in the mass availability of the vaccine. On the positive side, there are increased hopes of further fiscal aid in the US to keep its economy on track. The White House has reportedly raised its stimulus offer from the earlier proposed $1.0 trillion to $1.5 trillion, and further to $1.8 trillion, though that is still short of $2.2 trillion proposed by the Democrats.

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Maxxis has expanded its mountain bike lineup with two major innovations, one addressing the demands of modern cross-country racing and the other exploring entirely new terrain in wheel design. The brand introduces the Aspen AT, a tyre built for rougher and more variable XC courses, alongside a pioneering family of 32-inch mountain bike tyres.

The Aspen AT draws from the trusted Aspen family’s speed but adds a revised tread profile that boosts control and confidence on uneven ground. It sits between pure racing tyres and aggressive trail models, giving riders a single option for the varied demands of today’s XC and down-country riding. While the Aspen AT addresses the present, Maxxis looks further ahead with its new 32-inch platform. Larger wheel diameter improves rollover capability, traction and high speed stability on rough trails, offering a fresh choice for those who want to keep momentum and smooth out feedback without replacing current wheel sizes.

The initial lineup includes Aspen ST, Aspen and Aspen AT tread patterns, with Forekaster and Dissector versions following in the third quarter. Key features of the Aspen AT include a fast-rolling XC tyre with broader all-terrain capability, a revised tread for better grip in rough sections and construction suited to modern racing disciplines. The tyres deliver increased rollover for a smoother ride over obstacles, improved efficiency on rough surfaces and a larger contact patch that translates into greater stability and grip.

By adding the Aspen AT and introducing the 32-inch tyre family, Maxxis continues to lead the evolution of mountain biking, supporting riders from competitive starts to the very edge of what is possible on two wheels.

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Goodyear is all set to launch the new Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season this weekend at Donington Park’s National circuit. A 21-car grid marks the beginning of a campaign defined by a changed race structure, one that puts a stronger focus on how teams manage their tyres and prepare for each session rather than raw pace alone.

For the Donington rounds, competitors will receive four sets of the standard Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium tyre plus one set of the softer option compound. Throughout the season, every event will include both the standard tyre and one set of the option rubber, which must be used in at least one of the three races held over the weekend.

The most significant strategic shift comes from the revised weekend schedule. There is now only a single free practice session before qualifying and the newly introduced Race to Pole on Saturday. This compressed timeline is expected to reshape tyre strategies dramatically, rewarding those who can best adapt to limited track time.

In wet conditions, teams can turn to the Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet tyre, designed with a tread pattern that clears standing water to deliver grip. Beyond the BTCC, Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres will also be in action this weekend at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Imola, as well as in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Kansas Speedway.

Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC event leader, said, “This season, teams will have more preparation to do, but less time to do it in. The changes put a lot of pressure on drivers to make the most of free practice, as it’s the only real opportunity to understand how the tyres are working before dialling in a setup that needs to perform in qualifying and the Race to Pole.

“Typically, teams will add a degree or even a degree and a half of extra negative camber for qualifying to maximise one-lap performance. However, with parc fermé conditions in place between qualifying and the Race to Pole, what will make a strong strategy is finding a setup that works across both sessions, or choosing to favour one and accepting a compromise in the other. That’s where tyre management and understanding how the different compounds behave will be key.”

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Kumho Tire USA has kicked off the 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship season with a strong statement, as their driver Jack Shanahan secured third place in the opening round. Competing on Kumho’s Ecsta V730 tyres, Shanahan piloted an E82 BMW that was assembled in only 16 days. His podium finish demonstrated remarkable skill and precision throughout each battle, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.

After earning second place in qualifying, Shanahan moved confidently through the main competition, defeating Rudy Hansen, Jeff Jones and Aurimas Bakchis in successive rounds. However, when engine troubles arose during his Top Four matchup against Fredric Aasbo, Shanahan made the difficult but honourable decision to withdraw rather than risk spilling oil onto the track. This unfortunate mechanical failure also denied spectators the potential excitement of a final round showdown between Jack and his brother.

Shanahan first joined the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship in 2025, quickly establishing himself as a serious competitor. His rookie season was exceptional, as he finished sixth overall and earned Rookie of the Year honours while supported by Kumho tyres. Now in 2026, he aims to build on that momentum with clear goals of reaching more podiums and contending for the championship, steadily proving himself among the world’s elite drifters.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "We are absolutely thrilled with Jack Shanahan's impressive performance on the Streets of Long Beach, where he put our Ecsta V730 tyres to the ultimate test at the highest level of competitive drifting. His podium finish is a powerful testament to the exceptional performance and unwavering reliability of KUMHO tyres, and we are excited to have him as a returning driver for the 2026 season."

Shanahan said, "After building an all-new car for Formula DRIFT in just 16 days, we are incredibly grateful to have secured third place in round one, and KUMHO was a huge part of our success. I had every confidence in the KUMHO Ecsta V730 tyres and they performed flawlessly – providing the grip and consistency we needed for every battle on a highly technical and challenging course."

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Pirelli enters the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season as the defending Tyres Manufacturer champion, with the opening round taking place from 17 to 19 April on the demanding asphalt roads of Rally Sierra Morena in Andalusia. A total of 62 crews will gather for the event, and more than 30 of them are expected to fight for the initial points of the European title race. The challenging route features 203.80 timed kilometres spread across 13 special stages, setting the scene for a competitive weekend.

To equip its teams for this gruelling asphalt challenge, Pirelli has prepared a selection of tyres from the P Zero range, specifically the hard RA5C and soft RA7+ compounds for dry conditions, complemented by the Cinturato RWD for wet weather. Among the leading contenders using Pirelli tyres are Andrea Mabellini, who secured third place in the overall championship last year and will drive a Lancia Y HF, along with reigning Italian champion Giandomenico Basso and Teemu Suninen, both piloting a Skoda Fabia RS.

Beyond the main European championship entries, Pirelli also serves as the sole supplier and technical partner for the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, now in its third season. This initiative has attracted 11 crews to Rally Sierra Morena, further highlighting Pirelli’s broad involvement in the event. The tyre allocation rules specify that drivers in RC2, RC3 and RGT categories receive 16 tyres, while those in RC4, RC5 and RC6 are allocated 12.

For crews taking part in Qualifying, the tyres used during that session count towards the overall allocation. However, tyres used during Free Practice and the Shakedown are not included in the total. With a strong field and Pirelli’s comprehensive technical support, the 2026 season opener promises intense competition on the Andalusian stages.

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