The unprecedented lockdown imposed in March last year turned the supply chain of companies upside down, and the tyre companies were no exception. However, the intensity of disturbance was relatively high for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT), which exports more than 90 percent of its production. According to Padmakumar G, Executive Vice President – SCM at YOHT, unprecedented lockdown led to unprecedented initiatives for YOHT. “Most importantly, we learned the importance of being able to react, adapt and set up crisis management mechanisms to weather situations of uncertainty,” says Padmakumar G.

Q) Was Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) ready for the unprecedented lockdown?

Padmakumar G: The whole of 2020 was an extraordinary time when ‘business as usual’ was not an option. From the beginning of the year, it was clear that we were braced for a marathon and not a sprint.

At work, we had a unique period of simultaneous supply and demand shocks. Our plants in India were closed for a couple of weeks. As they (plants) were finally allowed to operate, we faced government-mandated operating restrictions and labour shortages that prevented us from running the plants at total capacity.

On the positive side, our plant in Israel was running at full capacity and continued shipments as planned. All sales and administrative employees at global locations were working from home and were doing their best to be accessible at all times. In North America, our network of national warehouses was open, stocked at historically high inventory levels and operating at full local, regional, and national distribution capacity to ensure continued deliveries to locations.

Our competitive position, market share, brand and diversification of our businesses in products and regions helped us see some all-time highs during these challenging times.

Q) Vendors and customers got panicked because of the uncertainties instilled by the lockdowns. How did you keep their morale and confidence intact in those tough times?

Padmakumar G: Unprecedented lockdown led to unprecedented initiatives for YOHT. The acute restrictions and lockdowns created many urgent situations that required immediate attention in the early days of the pandemic. At YOHT, we believe that no crisis should go to waste.

Adaptability, inventiveness and tenacity of our team paved the way to a ‘recovery mode’, and we started planning for the longer-term proactively. We did not face substantial business and operational disruptions – from mitigating the effects of reduced supply to managing disruptions to logistics suppliers and hurdles in meeting their contractual obligations to customers.

YOHT has an agile team that quickly reprioritised the customers’ requirement and ensured critical supply continuation through our multiple sourcing locations. We closely integrated with suppliers, vendors and customers to have better visibility. Consistent communication and streamlining the complexity helped us keep our commitments while keeping the morale and confidence in the most challenging times.

Q) YOHT is mainly into export of products and imports of raw materials? How did you cope up with the supply-demand situation?

Padmakumar G: Prioritisation of critical supply with effective utilisation of available inventories of finished goods, raw materials, and production capacities were the immediate focus in the lockdown situation. What also helped is that we have a wide base of sourcing raw material from multiple sources. We were able to keep our facility running at full efficiency to meet market requirement. We stepped up all measures to ensure that our customers get our products in the earliest shipments.

Q) ATG is now a part of Yokohama, a global giant in the tyre industry. What changes has Yokohama brought in the supply chain?

Padmakumar G: Yokohama has a strong legacy of quality, and its manufacturing and supply chain is very process-driven. The Kaizen processes and digitalisation of our daily supply chain activities helped us improve our process and culture. 

Q) What did you learn from the pandemic?

Padmakumar G: The importance of supply chain resilience and risk management is more apparent than ever. Most importantly, we learned the importance of being able to react, adapt and set up crisis management mechanisms to weather situations of uncertainty. 

Q) There has always been pressure to reduce cost and improve efficiency by shortening the order-to-delivery period. Could you share a couple of examples highlighting the company’s efforts that reduced the cost and enhanced supply chain efficiency?

 Padmakumar G: To shorten the order to delivery, YOHT has initiated Strategic Inventory build-up through S&CP (Sales & Capacity Planning) and effective cost management through strategic buying of raw materials. We have also increased the manufacturing flexibility to reduce delivery in our business of handling 3500+SKU’s.

Q) What new ideas will the company implement at the Visakhapatnam plant to have better supply chain management?

Padmakumar G: Investment in technology that will gain data insights like MES & digitalisation, improving transparency and considerations on sustainability in the supply chain will be key focus areas of our SCM processes in the Visakhapatnam plant. 

Q) What are the current challenges in the business?

Padmakumar G: Current situation of increased raw material cost, an aggressive demand for containers and increased shipping cost are some of the major challenges in SCM across industries. 

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Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd reported a sharp rise in profit for the quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, supported by margin expansion and accelerating investment across speciality carbon black capacity, export infrastructure and downstream materials.

The Kolkata-based speciality chemicals group said profit after tax for the nine months rose to INR 5.6 billion, exceeding the full-year profit recorded in FY25. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased to INR 7.3 billion, reflecting stronger operating leverage and a shift towards higher value-added products, despite softer revenue.

Revenue for the nine-month period stood at INR 33 billion, while total sales volumes increased by about three percent year on year to 428,572 tonnes. The company said its product mix remained focused on speciality and application-specific offerings, supporting profitability amid market volatility.

For the December quarter, consolidated EBITDA rose about 12 percent year on year to INR 2.5 billion, while profit after tax increased 36 percent to INR 1.9 billion, underlining continued margin improvement.

Investment-led expansion remains central to Himadri’s growth strategy. During the quarter, the company commenced trial production at its brownfield speciality carbon black expansion project at Mahistikry. Once fully operational, the project will increase total speciality carbon black capacity to 130,000 tonnes per annum, positioning Mahistikry as the world’s largest single-site facility for speciality carbon black. The project involves an estimated capital expenditure of INR 2.2 billion and is aimed at premium applications including plastics, inks, coatings and other niche segments.

Himadri also commissioned a high-temperature liquid coal tar pitch terminal at New Mangalore Port, creating a second export corridor alongside Haldia on India’s eastern coast. During the quarter, the company executed its first export shipment of 3,600 tonnes of liquid pitch to the Middle East. Management said the new terminal enhances logistics flexibility, reduces concentration risk and supports export-led growth in coal tar derivatives.

Beyond core expansions, the company continues to deploy capital across multiple growth platforms funded largely through internal accruals. These include forward integration into speciality chemicals such as anthraquinone and carbazole, with planned capital expenditure of INR 1.2 billion, as well as phased investments in lithium-ion battery materials, including a lithium iron phosphate cathode active material plant targeted for commissioning from FY27.

During the quarter ended 31 December 2025, upon receipt of INR 2.4 billion in balance consideration from promoters, Himadri allotted one crore equity shares to the promoters. Following the allotment, promoter shareholding increased to 52.5 per cent.

Commenting on the performance, Anurag Choudhary, Chairman and Managing Director, said the results reflected disciplined execution, operational efficiency and steady progress on strategic investments. He said the commissioning of new capacities marks the beginning of the company’s next phase of growth.

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In a major step to advance its global manufacturing footprint, China’s Triangle Tyre has unveiled plans for a new facility in Cambodia. The company will invest CNY 3,219 billion (approximately USD 462 million) to construct a tyre plant in Svay Rieng Province, with construction slated to commence in March 2026. This project represents a cornerstone of the firm’s international expansion strategy and a deepening engagement with the Belt and Road Initiative.

The future facility is designed to produce six million high-performance passenger car tyres and one million commercial vehicle tyres annually. It will employ proprietary manufacturing technologies developed by Triangle Tyre. Output from the Cambodian plant is primarily destined for key international markets, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Establishing a local, wholly-owned subsidiary will facilitate the project's implementation and ongoing operations. Company officials position the investment as a strategic move to optimize global supply chain and sales networks while enhancing overall market competitiveness. Financial projections indicate the project is expected to generate average annual revenues of approximately CNY 2,585 billion (approximately USD 371 million) upon reaching full production, with an estimated investment return rate of 15.1 percent.

This overseas capacity expansion is viewed as a direct response to China’s ‘Go Global’ policy. It aims to secure new market opportunities and sustainable profit growth, thereby strengthening the company’s position for long-term development in the global tyre industry.

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Hankook Tire commences its second year as the exclusive tyre supplier for all classes of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), beginning with the iconic Rallye Monte-Carlo from 22 to 25 January. This 94th edition of the legendary event, covering 339 kilometres across 17 special stages in Monaco and France, is renowned for its unpredictable Alpine conditions. The challenge of rapidly changing surfaces, from tarmac to snow and ice, makes tire selection and performance absolutely critical to competitive success.

For this demanding opener, Hankook will provide its advanced Ventus Z215 tarmac tyre, engineered for precise handling and cornering stability on dry roads. To tackle winter conditions, the company will supply its Winter i*cept SR20, available in both studded and non-studded versions to ensure exceptional traction and control on snow and ice. These products incorporate the brand's latest motorsport technology, developed in collaboration with participating manufacturers to meet the championship's rigorous demands.

Beyond the technical partnership, Hankook plans to enhance its fan engagement throughout the 2026 season. Initiatives include operating ‘Brand World’ marketing booths at service parks for events like the Croatia Rally and Vodafone Rally de Portugal, alongside hosting ‘Stage Hospitality’ at select regional rallies. These efforts are designed to offer unique brand experiences to spectators and partners, solidifying Hankook's premium global image. The company will also leverage its official digital channels to share real-time updates and rally content with a worldwide audience.

The 2026 WRC calendar comprises 14 rounds spanning Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. Having established its technological leadership since becoming the exclusive supplier in 2025, Hankook aims to build on its proven record of consistent performance under extreme conditions, supporting another fiercely competitive championship.

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Continental has enhanced its gravel range with the introduction of the Terra Adventure Graphite-Reflex, a tyre engineered for visibility and extended exploration. This new model incorporates a Graphite Reflective sidewall strip, certified to the R88 standard, to dramatically improve rider visibility during low-light and night-time riding. This key safety feature empowers cyclists to venture further with confidence, bridging the gap between gravel and cross-country mountain biking without compromising performance.

The tyre builds on a foundation of proven off-road technology, featuring a fast-rolling, open tread pattern derived from Continental's mountain bike expertise. This design ensures reliable traction across diverse surfaces, from soft soil to hardpack. Reinforced shoulder knobs provide secure cornering, while a specific 3-3-4 centre stud arrangement offers stability under braking and smooth handling over mixed terrain. Underpinning this capability is Continental's Grip Compound and protective Trail Casing, which work in concert to deliver durable, all-condition performance.

Fully tubeless-ready and hookless rim compatible, the Terra Adventure Graphite-Reflex is available in multiple widths to suit different riding preferences. Ranging from a speed-oriented 45 mm option to a plush 55 mm version, each tyre is constructed to offer long-distance durability and consistent control, making it a versatile choice for riders who demand both safety and uncompromising capability on their adventures.

Alexander Haenke, MTB and Gravel Product Manager, Continental Tires, said, “With the new Terra Adventure Graphite-Reflex, we’re expanding our gravel tyre portfolio for riders who want to venture further with greater confidence. By integrating R88-certified Graphite-Reflex, we’re improving low-light visibility and offering riders extra peace of mind on extended or unpredictable routes. Whether you’re tackling dark-season gravel rides or pushing through late-night bikepacking miles, Terra Adventure Graphite-Reflex adds a meaningful safety advantage without compromising style or performance. At Continental, we’re dedicated to creating products that align with every rider’s adventure – and with this new addition, the journey can continue long after the sun goes down.”

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