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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The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has opened registration for its 2026 Tire Emissions Research Conference, scheduled for 8 to 10 December 2026 at the University of Cambridge in England. The event continues a series that began with successful gatherings in Munich in 2024 and Boston in 2025.

Building on prior editions, the 2026 conference maintains an exclusive focus on scientific research into tyre emissions and actionable countermeasures. This emphasis responds to rising global concern over tyre wear pollution, with organisers believing that progress depends on open knowledge exchange, multi-stakeholder collaboration and harmonised scientific methods.

The agenda covers the full scope of the issue, including tyre and road emission generation, environmental distribution and fate, ecological behaviour and impact, design alternatives and civil engineering or environmental practices for mitigating tyre and road wear particles and related chemicals. Participants range from scientists and industry practitioners to policymakers and experts in environmental and materials science.

Held at Jesus College within the prestigious University of Cambridge, the conference follows the tradition of partnering with world-class institutions such as the Technical University of Munich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Abstract submissions are due by 29 May 2026, with further details and registration available on the event website.

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Kumho Tire has confirmed its participation at The Tire Cologne 2026, the world’s leading tyre exhibition, taking place in Cologne, Germany, from 9 to 11 June. The South Korean manufacturer will present key products at Hall 6.0, Stand B030 C039, including summer, winter, all-season and truck and bus tyres. The event is the largest and most prestigious global gathering for the tyre industry.

Under the theme ‘Innovation to Build the Future’, Kumho Tire will introduce its latest advancements and intelligent solutions for future mobility. The company aims to demonstrate technological excellence in stability and performance across driving conditions. Featured products include summer tyres such as the ECSTA SPORT S, ECSTA SPORT and ECSTA HS52, along with the winter tyre WinterCRAFT WP52+. Both ECSTA SPORT models are ultra-high-performance tyres gaining strong traction in the European market.

The WinterCRAFT WP52+, developed for European conditions, ranked third out of 51 entries in Auto Bild’s 2025 winter tyre test, earning an ‘Exemplary’ rating. Kumho Tire will also showcase MARSHAL brand products including the MU12, MH15 and MH22. The MU12 delivers stable handling, grip, braking and cornering at high speeds, as MARSHAL strengthens its global position combining performance with value.

Additional displays include the SOLUS HA32, WinterCRAFT ICE WI32, WI52, PorTran 4S CX11 and concept tyres Volume and Origami. Kumho Tire will invite key European customers for business meetings to explore partnerships, aiming to communicate its future vision, deepen engagement and expand its global footprint.

Tony Gangseung Lee, Head of Europe at Kumho Tire, said, “This exhibition presents a valuable opportunity to showcase our key products at the world’s largest tire event. We will leverage this platform to reinforce our position as a sustainable, future-oriented smart mobility partner and accelerate our transformation into a global premium brand.”

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JK Tyre & Industries has indicated another 5–6 percent price hike across replacement market product categories due escalating raw material costs continue to pressure margins.

Speaking during the company’s Q4 and FY26 earnings interaction, Chairman and Managing Director Dr Raghupati Singhania said the ongoing West Asia crisis had disrupted global supply chains, resulting in higher crude oil, commodity and logistics costs.

The company expects raw material costs to rise by 15–20 percent in the first quarter of FY27, with crude-linked inputs and rupee depreciation further adding to cost pressures.

“To mitigate raw material price increases and sustain profitability margins, we have started increasing selling prices in a staggered manner,” Singhania said.

He noted that while a 4–5 per cent increase had already been implemented in replacement markets, further hikes of around 5–6 per cent were under consideration. OEM price revisions, however, would follow with a lag due to contractual indexation mechanisms.

Apart from higher raw material costs, the company said export operations had also been affected by disruptions in shipping routes, container shortages and elevated freight charges.

To minimise supply risks, JK Tyre has shifted a part of its sourcing strategy towards eastern markets, including Taiwan, South Korea and China, deploying technical teams to approve alternate raw material supplies more quickly.

Despite near-term cost pressures, the company maintained that underlying demand remains strong and expects healthy growth momentum to continue in FY27, particularly in OEM and replacement tyre segments.

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Triangle Tyre has received official certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for its newly developed civil aviation radial tyres. The approval, granted on 11 May 2026, followed the product’s successful completion of rigorous technical evaluations and was formalised through the issuance of a Technical Standard Order Authorization, or CTSOA.

This authorisation serves as the CAAC’s formal recognition of a manufacturer’s design and production capabilities for aviation components. Acquiring the CTSOA confirms that Triangle Tyre has met all conformity standards, granting the company the legal right to manufacture and label its certified products with official identification numbers.

The certification applies to four specific tyre part numbers designed for major aircraft platforms, including China’s domestically produced C919 large passenger jet and the Airbus A320. Aviation tyres are considered critical safety components and are subject to some of the most demanding approval processes in the aerospace sector.

To earn the CTSOA, Triangle Tyre’s products underwent extensive on-site oversight and a battery of evaluations, including static load, high-speed rolling and extreme-temperature tests. The company demonstrated exceptional proficiency in materials science, engineering design, manufacturing processes and quality control, all of which were verified by the regulator.

Triangle Tyre began tackling the technical challenges of aviation radial tyres in 2017, aiming to break foreign monopolies. The company has since developed proprietary framework materials, structural designs and production equipment, establishing an independent technology platform and an airworthiness-compliant quality system.

With over 50 years of experience in tyre manufacturing, Triangle Tyre has now reinforced its position in the high-end market. The CTSOA achievement strengthens supply chain security for China’s aviation industry and follows years of collaboration with COMAC, including the 2020 milestone where its tyre became the first domestic civil aviation radial product to pass dynamic simulation testing.

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