The WRS 2021, organised by IRSG (International Rubber Study Group) together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and co-hosted by the Association des Professionales du Caoutchou Naturelle de Côte d’Ivoire (APROMAC) the Fonds Interprofessionnel pour la Recherche et le Conseil Agricoles (FIRCA), was a prime opportunity for leaders, experts, government representatives and NGOs to discuss the current status of the rubber industry and explore the way forward to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. This year’s WRS featured the very timely theme, ‘Facing the Future: Inclusiveness, Sustainability and Growth for the Next Normal’.

The WRS 2021 was officially opened by HE M. Jerome Patrick Achi, Prime Minister, Government of Côte d’Ivoire, in recognition of the important role that Africa can play as an emerging producer of natural rubber. The event has highlighted that the rubber economy could be a formidable engine for the continent, creating jobs and transforming its economic and social prospects, and providing opportunities for the youth and women – real key drivers of sustainable growth, development and peace. 

The WRS 2021 witnessed 29 eminent speakers from all parts of the world, about 200 participants directly linked to the virtual platform and significant public participation in Côte d’Ivoire, where stakeholders in the rubber sector interacted in person during the event.  

Innovative ideas and approaches emerged during the summit to address the new challenges that can change the global pattern of production and consumption in the rubber sector, market and policy discussions on new approaches in business and life to turn the crisis into an opportunity from the lessons learnt. Discussions around the decarbonisation commitment of governments justifying sustainable and secure supply chains for raw materials were focussed on supply chain collaboration, ensuring that raw material efficiency, performance and traceability are dealt with holistically.

An important debate took place on the impact of climate change on natural rubber systems, which has potential economic, environmental and social risks, identifying a set of policy recommendations that could facilitate the work of all stakeholders in the rubber value chain.

The latest IPCC report , published in August 2021, has highlighted that human activity is changing the climate in an unprecedented and sometimes irreversible way. Actions on the adaptation of natural rubber systems to climate changes are urgently needed and further investigations into the potential contribution of rubber to climate change mitigation.

Work-based on scientific knowledge is the precondition to identifying correct pathways to preserve and support the growth and prosperity of the natural rubber economy worldwide. In this field, IRSG has had a leading role thanks to the support of important R&D organisations such as CIFOR/FTA, IRRDB and CIRAD.

In his closing remarks, Salvatore Pinizzotto, Secretary-General IRSG, has pointed out that the main common point that emerged during the World Rubber Summit is the need to formulate policies and put into place people-centred actions. “If we look at the natural rubber sector alone, it sustains 40 million people with their families around the globe with a supply chain generating more than USD 300 billion. Furthermore, about 90 percent of the total world natural rubber production is sourced by smallholders. 

“To build an inclusive and sustainable rubber community, we need to work at local, national and international level – there is not a ‘one-size-fits-all solution – putting in place innovative forms of cooperation across national borders and a variety of actors – governments, business, academia and civil society. Reduce poverty-establishing mechanisms that could provide  smallholders with an adequate income level, implement an effective technology transfer on the field and support education and training among farmers, especially young people and women. These are some of the policies needed to implement sustainability. Leveraging digital technology in farming and green finance options encouraging climate change adaptation are other key policies to assure emission reduction and social inclusion."

 In closing the World Rubber Summit 2021, the Honourable KobenanKouassiAdjourmani, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of Côte d’Ivoire, has strongly stated that Africa is completely committed to implementing sustainability practices in the rubber sector, making sure that all the rubber value chain is equitable, profitable and transparent.  

"Sustainability and circular economy are two aspects that we need to keep high on the agenda of all stakeholders in the rubber economy. We need to make sure that both natural and synthetic rubber sectors comply with the adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." (TT)

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JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has inaugurated the Phase III expansion of its passenger car radial tyre manufacturing facility at Banmore in Madhya Pradesh, increasing production capacity as it steps up domestic manufacturing investment.

The expansion lifts the plant’s output to 30,000 passenger car radial tyres a day, equivalent to about 10.5 million tyres a year. The development forms part of a multi-phase investment of more than INR 10 billion at the Banmore site.

The new facility was inaugurated by Hisashi Takeuchi, in the presence of Raghupati Singhania and Anshuman Singhania, alongside senior representatives from Maruti Suzuki India Limited.

JK Tyre said the expansion supports its strategy to serve India’s aftermarket, original equipment manufacturers and export markets, as passenger vehicle demand continues to grow. With the commissioning of Phase III, the Banmore plant has become a key hub for high-performance passenger car radial tyre manufacturing.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Raghupati Singhania said: “The inauguration of Phase III expansion by Hisashi Takeuchi San at our Banmore plant reflects JK Tyre’s unwavering commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem and supporting the country’s mobility growth story. As passenger vehicle demand continues to rise, our focus remains on incessant capacity enhancement, modernisation, and technology-led innovation. Banmore has been a cornerstone of our passenger car radial journey, and this expansion further reinforces our ability to serve OEMs and consumers with high-quality, sustainable, and future-ready products, while contributing to industrial growth and employment generation in Madhya Pradesh.”

The company said the Banmore facility continues to contribute to regional industrial development through direct and indirect employment, sustainability-focused manufacturing practices and community initiatives, including programmes in healthcare, education, livelihood development and sports.

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Caterham Motorsport has entered a new multi-year partnership with Nova Motorsport, appointing them as the Official Tyre Partner. This agreement effectively continues the successful, long-term relationship previously held with Avon Motorsport, as Nova Motorsport now manufactures the same championship-winning tyre products under licence.

The partnership ensures a supply of high-performance tyres across four official Caterham championships: the Roadsport and 270R Championships will utilise the Nova ZZS; the 310R Championship will use the Nova ZZR and ZZS and the flagship UK Championship will be equipped with Nova Motorsport Slicks and Wets. These tyres, rebranded from the former Avon line, are specifically engineered for the unique demands of the Caterham Seven.

Freed from the constraints of road tyre labelling regulations, the new Nova ZZR and ZZS products are dedicated entirely to track performance, offering enhanced capabilities. This transition to the Nova brand and the secure, long-term nature of the alliance underscore Caterham Motorsport's strategic confidence in Nova Motorsport to deliver proven, ultra-high-quality products for its driver-focused racing series.

Daniel Stanton, Head of Sales & Marketing, Nova Motorsport, said, “We are immensely proud to solidify our relationship with Caterham Motorsport as the brand’s official tyre partner. This builds on a working relationship that has lasted many successful years under the Avon Motorsport banner. Nova Motorsport and Caterham share key synergies as businesses; we are both focused on the specialist, niche and high-performance segments of the automotive and motorsport world. This multi-year partnership is a major strategic pillar for Nova Motorsport. It underscores our unwavering commitment to reliably supplying Caterham competitors around the world with the tyres they need to compete and win at the highest level.”

Alex Read, Head of Motorsport, Caterham, said, “Nova Motorsport is the perfect fit for Caterham Motorsport. Our products demand specialist tyres, and the Nova team, with its heritage rooted in Avon Motorsport, understands this implicitly. The tyres supplied are uniquely designed for our Sevens, meaning our competitors will directly benefit from Nova Motorsport’s renewed dedicated focus on the Caterham product. We are fully confident in the quality and service our drivers will receive and are looking forward to getting the 2026 Caterham Motorsport racing season underway with our new partners.”

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A pivotal strategic collaboration agreement between Norwegian innovator reTyre and global high-performance bicycle tyre leader Vittoria anchors a new EUR 7 million investment round. This financing, led by Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund with Fundracer and existing investors, fuels reTyre’s mission to transform the bicycle tyre industry. The capital will scale production, fulfil a substantial order book and accelerate the path to profitability.

The foundation of this venture is reTyre’s patented injection moulding technology, the result of over a decade of research. This process enables fully automated, decentralized production near OEM assembly lines, slashing transport costs and emissions. It achieves an 80 percent reduction in CO₂, allows for 100 percent recyclability and operates dust-free.

The investment will immediately establish a fully automated production cell in Norway, with a second Asian facility planned for 2026. While already serving a broad customer base, reTyre’s partnership with Vittoria specifically targets the performance utility tyre segment. Together, they will co-develop and commercialise a new generation of high-performance tyres leveraging reTyre’s sustainable technology.

This confluence of strategic collaboration, substantial funding and deep-tech innovation marks a definitive turning point. It unites sustainable production, market-leading performance and strategic investment to reshape the future of the global bicycle tyre industry.

Paul Magne Amundsen, CEO and Founder, reTyre, said, “After a decade of focused R&D, we’re proud to disrupt the industry with a technology that delivers a new level of performance while enabling true circularity and a sustainable solution in tyre manufacturing. Support from Hatch Blue, Fundracer and our co-development partnership with Vittoria, reflects deep confidence in both our vision and the breakthrough potential of our platform as we continue to scale.”

René Wiertz, Managing Partner, Fundracer, said, “We are proud to support reTyre and to work alongside their team in scaling this groundbreaking technology. reTyre’s deep-tech platform enables clean, local and automated production of all types of tyres. It aligns perfectly with Fundracer’s mission to back sustainable, high-performance innovations that will redefine the future of mobility.”

Georg Baunach, Managing Partner, Hatch Blue, said, “I’m excited to work with Paul and the rest of the reTyre team over the next few years. It is rare to come across truly disruptive innovation, and we are convinced that reTyre can completely change the way the multi-billion-dollar tyre market is structured. As reTyre scales, incorporating side and waste streams from regenerative aquaculture could meaningfully improve the economics and sustainability of aquaculture production.”

Stijn Vriends, Chairman & CEO, Vittoria, said, “We’ve followed reTyre for many years and are convinced that their unique production method can successfully be applied to utility bicycle tyres. Vittoria stands for performance and sustainability, and reTyre’s technology delivers both. We’re excited to collaborate and bring this next generation of sustainable performance tyres to market.”

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The second round of ABB FIA Formula E World Championship's Season 12 concluded with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix, a vibrant festival of motorsport held at the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Hankook Tire's iON Race tyres were integral to the spectacle and strategy at the celebrated venue, where intense racing met a uniquely challenging environment. The high-altitude circuit, located over 2,200 metres above sea level, placed a premium on thermal management and consistent grip, demands met by the predictable performance of the iON Race compound throughout the evolving conditions.

Across this demanding circuit, all teams competed on Hankook's race-proven iON Race tyres. These tyres provided a stable and reliable platform, crucial for managing the unique energy and heat constraints of the high-altitude event. The iON Race tyres delivered predictable warm-up and consistent grip, allowing drivers to push with confidence through both high-speed and technical sections of the lap. Their ability to maintain a steady contact patch and effective thermal control supported strategic flexibility and vehicle balance as track conditions evolved throughout the race distance.

The event, which also marked Formula E's 150th race, was ultimately won by Nick Cassidy, securing a maiden victory for Citroën. He finished ahead of Edoardo Mortara for Mahindra Racing and Oliver Rowland for Nissan. With the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix complete, the championship now looks ahead to Round 3, the Miami E-Prix, scheduled for 31 January 2026 at the Miami International Autodrome.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport, said, “Mexico City once again proved how decisive stable tyre behaviour is at high altitude. Across a race that demanded constant adaptation, the iON Race delivered the confidence and consistency teams needed to manage energy, temperature and balance under challenging conditions.”

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