Being a global supplier of tyre oil, Nynas supplies its products to major tyre companies worldwide. However, the Covid-19 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges in transporting goods through all three modes of transportations, and Nynas is no exception! In an interview with Sharad Matade of Tyre Trends, Rogier van Hoof, Head of Secondary Distribution Naphthenics at Nynas, says enhanced communication and exchange of information digitally will help the company handle the new challenges. He also added that the container availability is expected to be normalised in 2022 but road transportation will remain a challenge.

Ever since Covid-19 engulfed the world, the job of Rogier van Hoof, Head of Secondary Distribution Naphthenics at Nynas, has become more challenging. Though tyre production is coming back on track speedily, the challenges at the logistic front are still demanding. Recollecting the initial impact of Covid, van Hoof says, "For Nynas, it all started in early 2020, when the lockdowns in China forced factories to close down manufacturing activities. However, the initial shock was largely seen in truck movements. As part of the measures, drivers had to go into quarantine after a long haul drive. They could pick up a container, but they had to go into quarantine when they were back at the delivery point. So we saw an immediate effect on the truck availability. The cascading impact, I don't think anybody could have predicted. We are on a steep learning curve since the beginning of 2020."

van Hoof and his team swung into action and immediately enhanced the communication with its customers, forwarders and logistic partners to evaluate options to tackle the unprecedented challenges. "I don't think anyone was prepared for what had happened afterwards. Before Covid, people used to take logistics for granted that you order something and it's there when you want it. But with the Covid situation, people have realised to approach things differently, not only on the factory levels but also on the logistics sides on a day to day basis. There are still many limitations we have to deal with," says van Hoof.

According to van Hoof, in the last one and a half years, the just-in-time concept is out of the window and long-term planning has become the priority. "In the past, we knew there was a vessel going every week, and we had substantial free times in getting the containers in, getting them loaded and bringing them to the quay. Even if we would miss a vessel, we always could ship it next week, so the delay was manageable – but that has gone completely out of the window today. It is clear that if you miss a vessel, the next vessel with space will be there maybe in a month. This means everyone needs to plan much further ahead," says van Hoof.

Most countries are now recovering from the Covid impact; however, many major export destinations are still grappling with severe restrictions. Many main ports are congested and containers are either stacking up at cargo ports or in inland depots. This imbalance results in waiting time for space on vessels, according to reports, between three to eight weeks. The logistics supply chain is struggling to get back in balance resulting in extreme price spikes and unpredictable delays. "This is a situation which is unprecedented; we have never seen it before," adds van Hoof.

van Hoof says loyalty and predictability are helping the company sail through the rough time. "We have been working with our logistic partners for a long time and, therefore, they know that what we promise them, we deliver. Predictability towards the stakeholders like transporters, shipping lines, forwarders has become key. In desperation, many companies are making overbooking of containers but failing to utilise the booking fully. In our relationship with our forwarders and the shipping lines, we have been able to show loyalty and keep our promise. If we tell the shipping line that we will ship 50 containers this week, we will make sure that these 50 containers are there. Our loyalty is rewarded by the fact that they will treat us as a preferential client. Price is no longer the highest priority, and this is something people need to realise. There's always somebody who is prepared to pay more,” explains van Hoof.

van Hoof feels the container availability situation will be normalised by 2022, but the driver availability issue will remain a more significant issue.

Currently, the company has 23 depots worldwide, of which Antwerp, Houston and Singapore are central storage facilities and blending stations. Last year, the company transported around 700,000 tonnes of oil by sea. There were also 30,000 deliveries by road tanker, 10.000 container transports and 250,000 drums delivered to customers worldwide.

However, opening more depots to tackle the logistic challenges is not viable, thinks van Hoof. Around 2018-19, shipping costs for containers were at the lowest level ever; companies always preferred shipping over setting up depots. "Now our shipping costs have not only increased substantially, but the reliability of the shipping has gone down to the lowest ever. I think that less than 60 percent of the vessels arrive at the bars on time. So we are continuously looking at what is now the best solution. But you also have to consider that opening a depot in a country is not a temporary thing. It is something you do for the long run," explains van Hoof.

van Hoof also sees a possibility of working with its clients to manage container utilisation. "There are customers who are logistically shipping more than we do. So can we use the strength of both companies to find a solution? For instance, let's say we ship 100 containers to India and our customer ships 200 containers from India, so we are seeing if we can help each other, can we use their containers? We see more and more openness among the stakeholders in tackling logistic challenges," says van Hoof.

Nynas is currently implementing a transport management system within the company, which will allow it to digitalise the information. The transport management system allows exchanging data between stakeholders, including Nynas' depots, transporters, forwarders, inspectors and customs agents. "Today, everybody's under stress, and people need real information in real time," adds van Hoof.

The company plans to go into the second phase to integrate all that information with other stakeholders.

The Nynas executive advises the youngsters in the transporting job to be agile and eager to learn to tackle unusual situations. "You need to deal with much information and make sense of that information and use it correctly. So if you are somebody who gets up in the morning and goes to work, and has no idea what will happen during the day, then you're a suitable candidate for the job. For me, I make a little list of two or three things to do every day, and at the end of the day, I'm always happy that I've done two or three jobs, because, during the day, there are so many other things that need attention or immediate attention," concludes van Hoof. (TT)

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Tyres Europe has responded to the European Commission’s recently presented Automotive Simplification Package. While acknowledging the proposal as an initial positive step towards reducing regulatory complexity, the association identifies a significant omission: the failure to address the regulatory regime governing tyres. According to the association, tyres are a fundamental component influencing vehicle safety, energy efficiency, noise and emissions, making their inclusion in any regulatory simplification effort essential.

The association welcomes the Package’s move away from redundant laboratory testing, noting this sensible approach recognises that proliferating tests increases cost without necessarily improving environmental or safety outcomes. However, it argues this logic must be applied consistently across all vehicle components, including tyres. A specific and immediate opportunity for simplification is highlighted concerning the Implementing Act on In-Service Verification for heavy-duty vehicle emissions. The association points out that new original-equipment tyres used in this testing are already rigorously certified under separate, existing tyre legislation. The new act imposes stricter tolerances, creating a scenario where tyres fully compliant with their specific regulations could fail the in-service test. This constitutes a disproportionate double regulation that undermines legal certainty for manufacturers. The association contends that the objectives of in-service verification could be met more effectively through reinforced market surveillance instead of creating a parallel regulatory regime.

Looking forward, Tyres Europe calls for a coherent regulatory framework that properly acknowledges the tyre’s essential role. This framework should formally recognise tyres as core safety components, introduce new requirements with clarity and predictability, base decisions on reliable data and support innovation, circularity and European manufacturing. The association concludes that significant industry investment in safer and more sustainable products depends on regulatory confidence. For Europe to maintain a resilient and competitive automotive industry, tyre policy must be fully integrated into regulatory design, ensuring tyres are visible in policy discussions and recognised for their critical contribution to sustainable mobility.

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Doublestar Tire secured two major honours at the 2025 World Executive Summit in Hong Kong, an event organised by the World Brand Lab. The company was celebrated as the premier brand in its field, receiving the Chinese Brand of the Year award for the tyre category.

This accolade was complemented by a separate recognition, as Doublestar Tire was also ranked among China’s Top 10 Most Influential Brands for the same category in the 2025 edition of the annual listing.

These awards, announced during the summit, highlight the brand's leading reputation and substantial impact within the competitive Chinese market.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.'s global flagship ADVAN tyres are prominently featured in the latest high-octane instalment of the Gymkhana film series, ‘Gymkhana: Aussie Shred’. Released by Hoonigan Media Machine, the video rapidly surpassed 5.3 million views within its first week. This marks the third consecutive film in the popular stunt-driving series to showcase Yokohama’s tyre technology, following previous episodes released in 2020 and 2022 which have collectively amassed tens of millions of views online.

The film stars action sports icon and Yokohama brand ambassador Travis Pastrana, who performs a series of extreme manoeuvres across Australian terrain. His vehicle is a custom-built, 670-horsepower Subaru ‘Brataroo’, a modern re-engineering of a classic 1978 model specifically designed for Gymkhana stunts. Pastrana’s daring feats include high-speed drifts and a breathtaking 50-metre canyon jump, all captured in the new production.

Supporting these demanding performances, the Brataroo is equipped with Yokohama’s 18-inch ADVAN A052 street sports tyres and ADVAN APEX V601 high-performance tyres. Engineered to deliver an optimal blend of grip and structural integrity, these tyres provided critical stability across varied and punishing surfaces, from race circuits to loose gravel. This technological partnership enabled Pastrana to successfully execute the film's next-level stunts, demonstrating the ADVAN line's capabilities under extreme driving conditions and reinforcing Yokohama’s association with premier motorsport entertainment.

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American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has selected the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV as the recommended winter tyre for its R1T and R1S models in North America. This partnership marks a first for Nokian Tyres in the region, where the Finnish company markets a full range of all-season, all-weather and winter product. The non-studded tyre is now available for direct purchase through Rivian Gear Shop and can be installed at the brand’s service centres.

Designed specifically for large, powerful vehicles, this latest-generation tyre addresses the particular demands of electric vehicles, including increased weight and instant torque. It incorporates features such as Aramid-reinforced sidewalls for added durability and puncture resistance, alongside a low-rolling-resistance compound to help preserve driving range. The tread utilises Arctic Grip Crystals to enhance grip on ice, and the Green Trace compound integrates recycled and renewable materials.

The Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV carries important safety and suitability certifications. It bears the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol and the Ice Grip Symbol, confirming its performance in severe winter conditions. Furthermore, it has received Nokian’s Electric Fit designation, indicating it was specially developed and tested for electric vehicles. Together, these elements provide Rivian owners with a winter tyre option engineered for optimised stability, load management and overall safety in cold weather.

Tyler Scott, Nokian Tyres Key Accounts Manager, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Rivian to offer our flagship non-studded winter tyre to drivers who demand the very best from their vehicles. Our groundbreaking tyre technology, rooted in our 90-year tradition of safety, will help Rivian drivers follow through on the company’s quest to Keep the World Adventurous, even in the toughest winter conditions."   

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