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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Michelin India has opened a new Michelin Tyres & Services (MTS) store in Jodhpur through a partnership with Sushil Tyres. Located on Chopasani Road, the facility expands the French tyre giant’s retail footprint across Rajasthan while offering premium tyre solutions to local motorists.

Spanning 1,800 square feet, the outlet features Michelin’s full range of passenger car tyres alongside modern wheel alignment and balancing equipment. The inauguration was led by Prashant Sharma, Michelin India’s National Sales Director, with the site designed to deliver a premium and convenient service experience.

Jodhpur, known as the Blue City and a fast-growing commercial hub in Rajasthan, benefits from a strong tourism economy and rising numbers of premium vehicle owners. Sushil Tyres, a trusted local name since 1984, brings over four decades of aftermarket expertise, making the collaboration a blend of global technology and deep community knowledge focused on safety, durability and performance.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said: “Jodhpur represents a key market in Michelin's growth strategy for the region. The city's rapidly evolving mobility landscape, driven by growing infrastructure and a rising base of premium vehicle owners, makes it an important hub for our retail expansion. The launch of our new Michelin Tyres & Services Store in Jodhpur reinforces our commitment to expanding our network and ensuring greater accessibility to Michelin's premium products and services. This expansion is aligned with our plans to introduce Made-in-India passenger car tyres, reinforcing our commitment to delivering globally benchmarked products tailored for Indian consumers”

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Bridgestone India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, has introduced a new brand campaign titled ‘Feel the Bridgestone Difference’. The initiative centres on the often-overlooked role of tyres as the sole critical contact point between a vehicle and the road. While every car is designed with a specific performance level in mind, the campaign argues that a vehicle can only realise its true potential when equipped with the appropriate tyres.

According to the campaign, tyres influence control, safety, confidence and driving smoothness far more than most drivers realise. Even the most well-engineered car delivers an incomplete experience without proper tyre fitment. Bridgestone positions its products as the key to unlocking a vehicle’s full capabilities, allowing drivers to feel a tangible difference on every journey. Over the past 30 years, Bridgestone India has focused on technology, manufacturing excellence, innovation and quality to build products that stand apart.

A key highlight of the campaign is the company’s commitment to staying ahead of industry standards without compromise. Bridgestone tyres offer benefits including better grip, stronger braking, smoother handling, lower road noise, improved fuel efficiency and longer tyre life. Drawing inspiration from nature, the campaign features animals such as the mountain goat, cheetah and rhino to symbolise grip, speed, strength and control in challenging terrains. This creative approach mirrors how Bridgestone tyres are engineered to perform across India’s diverse road and driving conditions.

The campaign serves as a reminder that while every car has built-in potential, the right tyres bring it to life. Promoted across multiple platforms nationwide, the initiative reinforces Bridgestone India’s long-standing promise of performance, safety and reliability for every driver.

Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director – Sales and Marketing, Bridgestone India, said, “Bridgestone has been a trusted name for Indian consumers, and that trust has come from consistently delivering safe, high-quality products and a superior driving experience. Our customers have experienced the Bridgestone difference over the years – whether in better control, smoother rides or long-lasting performance. ‘Feel the Bridgestone Difference’ is a campaign people will instantly relate to because it reflects something they have already felt. With this campaign, we want to take that experience to a larger audience and help more people understand how the right tyre fitment can completely transform the way a car performs.”

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ZC Rubber showcased its full brand portfolio at TyreXpo Asia 2026 in Bangkok, drawing attention from customers, distributors and industry partners across Southeast Asia and other global markets. The Chinese manufacturer presented six of its brands at the event: WESTLAKE, GOODRIDE, CHAOYANG, TRAZANO, GOLDEN CROWN and ORNATE.

The Bangkok exhibition, recognised as a key Asian gathering for the tyre industry, brought together resources from the tyre sector, automotive aftermarket and related supply chains. This provided ZC Rubber with a strategic platform to demonstrate its brand strength, exchange market intelligence and pursue deeper regional cooperation.

Among the six brands on display, WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE drew particular interest from professional visitors due to their dependable performance and wide market adaptability. The additional presence of CHAOYANG, TRAZANO, GOLDEN CROWN and ORNATE further broadened the company’s ability to address varied market segments and customer applications. A major highlight was the X-Elite commercial tyre series, launched in 2025, which has already entered multiple overseas markets and gained strong recognition from fleets, dealers and end users for its durability, mileage and resilience in demanding conditions.

Representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Energy visited the ZC Rubber booth during the show, learning about the company’s brand structure, product uses and Asian market development. Their visit underscored local interest in tyre industry and supply chain progress, reinforcing ZC Rubber’s commitment to deepening its Southeast Asian presence. Moving forward, the company plans to leverage its multi-brand strategy, comprehensive product lineup and global service capabilities to deliver high-value tire solutions and unlock further growth opportunities across the region.

Shen Haoyu, Senior Vice President, ZC Rubber, said, “Asia is a key part of ZC Rubber’s global strategy. Through international platforms such as TyreXpo Asia, we are able to listen more closely to our customers while demonstrating to global partners ZC Rubber’s confidence, upward momentum and strength to grow with the market.”

Justin Cui, Asia Sales Director, ZC Rubber, said, “The Southeast Asian market is highly dynamic and continues to raise expectations for product adaptability and service responsiveness. We will continue to strengthen local market engagement, work closely with our partners and seize new growth opportunities together to create greater value for users across the region.”

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Apollo Tyres reported a 14 percent rise in fourth-quarter revenue, supported by strong demand in India’s replacement and original equipment segments.

The tyre maker said consolidated revenue from operations for the quarter ended March 2026 rose to INR 73.36 billion from INR 64.24 billion a year earlier. Operating profit increased 28 percent to INR 10.69 billion, while net profit rose to INR 6.31 billion from INR 1.85 billion in the corresponding quarter last year.

The company said the latest quarterly profit included the estimated after-tax impact of restructuring and impairment charges of INR 3.38 billion, disclosed as exceptional items, as well as a one-off tax reversal of INR 5.74 billion linked to the adoption of a concessional tax regime.

For the full financial year ended March 2026, consolidated revenue increased 9 percent to INR 284.71 billion from INR 261.23 billion a year earlier. Operating profit rose 16 percent to INR 41.43 billion, while net profit stood at INR 13.72 billion compared with INR 11.21 billion in the previous year.

Apollo Tyres said its Indian operations delivered their highest-ever quarterly revenue during the period. Truck and bus radial tyre sales grew by more than 20 percent in the fourth quarter.

Onkar Kanwar, chairman of Apollo Tyres, said performance in India remained “robust”, particularly in the replacement and original equipment segments, while European operations were in line with prevailing market conditions. He added that geopolitical tensions in West Asia continued to pose challenges, although the company remained optimistic about demand momentum in India, supported by positive rural sentiment.

Apollo Tyres Posts 14% Rise In Q4 Revenue

Apollo Tyres reported a 14 percent rise in fourth-quarter revenue, supported by strong demand in India’s replacement and original equipment segments.

The tyre maker said consolidated revenue from operations for the quarter ended March 2026 rose to INR 73.36 billion from INR 64.24 billion a year earlier. Operating profit increased 28 percent to INR 10.69 billion, while net profit rose to INR 6.31 billion from INR 1.85 billion in the corresponding quarter last year.

The company said the latest quarterly profit included the estimated after-tax impact of restructuring and impairment charges of INR 3.38 billion, disclosed as exceptional items, as well as a one-off tax reversal of INR 5.74 billion linked to the adoption of a concessional tax regime.

For the full financial year ended March 2026, consolidated revenue increased 9 percent to INR 284.71 billion from INR 261.23 billion a year earlier. Operating profit rose 16 percent to INR 41.43 billion, while net profit stood at INR 13.72 billion compared with INR 11.21 billion in the previous year.

Apollo Tyres said its Indian operations delivered their highest-ever quarterly revenue during the period. Truck and bus radial tyre sales grew by more than 20 percent in the fourth quarter.

Onkar Kanwar, chairman of Apollo Tyres, said performance in India remained “robust”, particularly in the replacement and original equipment segments, while European operations were in line with prevailing market conditions. He added that geopolitical tensions in West Asia continued to pose challenges, although the company remained optimistic about demand momentum in India, supported by positive rural sentiment.

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