Yokohama reported a decline in the sales and business profits for its tyre segment for the first quarter, ending March 2020.

The company’s tyre business’ sales declined 12.71% to 87.410 billion yen in Q12020.  It reported a net loss of 503 million yen in Q12020.

The company said the downturn in business profit reflected a decline in unit sales volume, an increase in production costs associated with reduced production volume, and inventory-adjustment costs occasioned by a tyre recall in North America.

Both domestic and international markets saw a fall in sales. “That decline reflected production adjustments necessitated by a decline in Japanese demand associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and by suspended operation at vehicle plants in overseas markets,” said Yokohama.

Sales revenue also declined in replacement tyres. Sales of winter tyres in Japan were weak on account of warmer-than-usual winter temperatures at the outset of the year, and Japanese business in replacement tyres also suffered from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on consumer spending. Business in replacement tyres was generally sluggish in overseas markets, too.
ATG, a part of Yokohama looking into agri, industrial and OTR tyres, also had a fall in sales and profits due low demand.

ATG’s sales stood at 15.54 billion yen in Q12020,  a fall of 17%, from 18.86 billion yen in Q12019. Profit fell by 22% to 1.78 billion yen in Q12020.

The massive business disruption caused by COVID-19 will necessitate revisions in the full-year fiscal projections that Yokohama issued in February 2020. However, the full extent of that disruption is impossible to determine at this time, and the company will therefore withhold for the time being the release of revised business projections and of proposed dividends. Yokohama will release its revised business projections and proposals for dividends as soon as management secures a firm grasp of the fiscal outlook.

Several measures are under way at Yokohama to maintain a sound financial position in the face of the COVID-19 challenge. Those measures include fortifying short-term liquidity through optimal fund raising, paring cash expenditures by deferring capital spending and trimming costs, and reducing compensation for directors, officers, associate officers, and managers.

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Apollo Tyres, one of the leading tyre makers in the country, has expanded its product portfolio with the introduction of the made-in-India for India and the world Apollo Aspire 5 ultra-high performance (UHP) tyre.

Available in 17-inch and above rim size with W/Y speed rating, the company looks to tap into the demand for Uthe HP tyre range, especially in the luxury car segment. The company shared that the UHP tyre has been designed with Dynamic Contour Technology for superior physical and acoustic comfort, and Tri-Flex Compound for high-speed grip and stability.

The electric vehicle-ready Apollo Aspire 5 tyre range has undergone extensively testing across Europe, India, Japan and Korea, and has been tailored to meet the demanding needs from Indian road conditions. Furthermore, the Apollo Aspire 5 will also be introduced in global markets such as Europe and Asia.

Rajesh Dahiya, Vice-President, Commercial (India, SAARC and Southeast Asia), Apollo Tyres, said, “Performance today goes beyond speed; premium car buyers now demand a quieter, more refined driving experience, especially with the rise of electric crossover and luxury SUVs. At Apollo Tyres, we have been preparing for this shift with cutting-edge R&D, global benchmarking and technologies tailored for evolving mobility. Aspire 5 is a testament of our commitment to lead this new era of performance.”

The tyre maker stated that the new range of products have been co-developed with leading OEMs, deep industry insight with real-world consumer feedback.

The Apollo Aspire 5 tyre range offers better control, superior ride comfort and impressively low noise levels. The tyre will be produced at the company’s state-of-the-art plant in Andhra Pradesh.

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 The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is convening its annual Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors programme this week, sending industry professionals to Capitol Hill to press lawmakers on policies supporting domestic manufacturing, road safety and sector innovation.

The two-day event, running from 24–25 June, brings together representatives from USTMA’s 11 member companies — including engineers, business managers and marketers — to meet with members of Congress and their staff. The discussions are expected to focus on key legislative priorities such as expanding tyre retreading in the U.S., advancing consumer safety initiatives, and passing a congressional resolution in support of National Tire Safety Week.

“The U.S. tyre manufacturing industry is a vibrant engine of innovation, enabling safe and sustainable mobility for consumers and businesses. Our industry is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, supporting more than 800,000 jobs and keeping up with evolving consumer expectations on reliability, safety and environmental impact,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO.

The ambassadors, who live in the same communities where the industry operates, are set to highlight how national legislation impacts local jobs and infrastructure. USTMA members operate 55 manufacturing facilities across 16 states and contribute to a $170.6 billion annual economic footprint, the association said.

The event follows a letter sent by USTMA to Congressional leaders in February outlining the sector’s legislative agenda. The group is advocating for increased investment in tyre innovation, transparency measures for consumers, and job creation through infrastructure and sustainability-focused policies.

“Our Ambassadors represent the manufacturing workers who power the industry every day, and we are honoured by their advocacy for the tyre manufacturing industry and the communities it supports,” Luke added.

The initiative reflects USTMA’s broader push to align policymakers with the industry’s goals of maintaining global competitiveness while securing long-term growth for U.S. manufacturing.

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Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres has been recognised by TIME Magazine as one of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025, ranking 98th on the prestigious global list of 500 companies demonstrating outstanding environmental and social responsibility.

The second edition of the rankings, compiled by TIME Magazine in collaboration with data firm Statista, evaluated companies based on verified sustainability commitments, including UN Global Compact membership and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative.

Assessment criteria also included performance ratings from respected organisations such as CDP and MSCI, alongside evaluations of sustainable business practices, transparency, and environmental and social stewardship.

Nokian Tyres has positioned itself as a sustainability pioneer within the tyre industry, driving sustainable development both within its operations and throughout its value chain. The company’s environmental leadership dates back three decades, with its Finnish factory becoming the world’s first tyre manufacturing facility to achieve environmental certification in 1995.

“We create tyres that are safe, innovative and sustainable. Nokian Tyres has been a pioneer in sustainability in the tyre industry for over three decades. As early as 1995, our factory in Finland was the first tyre factory in the world to gain an environmental certification. We are proud of our track record and want our sustainability actions to have a meaningful impact. The most recent example of this is our new factory in Romania, the first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory in the world,” said Paolo Pompei, president and chief executive of Nokian Tyres.

The company’s latest sustainability milestone is its new Romanian manufacturing facility, which represents the world’s first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory, demonstrating Nokian Tyres’ continued commitment to environmental innovation in industrial manufacturing.

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Chinese state-owned enterprise Sinochem has achieved a significant milestone, with its brand value surpassing 500 billion yuan for the first time, according to rankings released at the 22nd World Brand Conference in Beijing.

The World Brand Lab announced that Sinochem ranked seventh on its annual “China’s 500 Most Valuable Brands” list for 2025, with the company’s brand value climbing from 475.906 billion yuan in 2024 to over 500 billion yuan this year.

This marks the 22nd consecutive year that the Sinochem brand has secured a position on the prestigious ranking. The company’s property development arm, Jinmao, also featured prominently, placing 170th with a brand value of 74.186 billion yuan.

The World Brand Lab’s methodology evaluates brand worth through three key metrics: financial performance, brand strength, and consumer behaviour analysis, employing a “present value of earnings method” for valuation. The ranking is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative assessments in Chinese brand research.

Sinochem’s consistent performance has been particularly notable since 2004 when it first entered the top ten of the annual list. Following the establishment of China National Chemical Corporation on 8 May 2021, the enhanced Sinochem brand has maintained its seventh position for four consecutive years, demonstrating sustained growth in brand value and international market recognition.

The company attributed its success to implementing comprehensive brand management strategies aligned with government directives on brand development. Sinochem stated that it will continue to leverage high-quality brand building and valuable brand assets to strengthen its core functions and competitiveness, supporting the company’s long-term development objectives.

The World Brand Conference, now in its 22nd year, serves as a key platform for evaluating China’s corporate brand landscape and tracking the evolution of the country’s most significant commercial entities.

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