Continental is the only tyre company that manufacturers bicycle tyres in Germany. The long-time Tour de France associate has always believed in serving cyclists with the best technology features they expect and deserve

How passionate Continental is about the bicycle tyre business can be judged by the company’s history and innovations in the segment. One of the leading innovative tyre makers that caters to all tyre segments, Continental will be celebrating its 150th anniversary of the bicycle tyre production next year.

“Mobility concepts are a core of Continental. We are looking back on a strong heritage and carefully built up expertise over the many years since we are operating. Therefore we find ourselves in the very encouraging position of contributing to mobility developments of today and serving solutions,” Oliver Anhuth, Global, Head of Marketing, Two Wheel Tires Bicycle at Continental Tires,told Tyre Trends.

Continental is the only tyre company that manufacturers bicycle tyres in Germany.

Though bicycles are no more preferred mode to commute on the road as it used to be, love for the bicycle has not faded. According to Anhuth, Continental has a robust international community with many interested people and cyclists who are keen to explore the options they have to tune their bikes easily. “Speaking of our community there are many many passionate fans who actively share information and tips and also help each other with recommendations when it comes to model selection, sizing or tyre pressure questions,” he said.

Over the years, Continental has believed in serving cyclists with the best technology features they expect and deserve. “We find ourselves both seen as an industry leader, yes, and by doing so, with a strong eye on the reliability aspect of our tyres, to really support for the best ride possible,” Anhuth said.

Continental sees the growing demand for more individual solutions and setups in the bicycle tyre business. “By perceiving this, the brand is not only the platform for a company’s overall appearance but also a strong promise we are lucky enough to make to the cyclists. By choosing Continental, cyclists can rely on the fact that the products have proven their performance multiple times before we present it and provide a high level of quality on different price points. We also strongly believe in the handmade aspect we are performing since 1871,” he explained.

In developing markets, such as China and India, which are also the largest bicycle markets and where bicycles are still used as a commuting tool, and there is another market like Europe where bicycles are used from commuting and exercising to for sadventure sports. Being a global company, Continental focuses on understanding different markets to cater to different demands. “We cater to different customers globally, this with various solutions; from specialist tyres to allrounders, from special interest products to generalists, at different price points. We always valued having the chance to gain insights from different perspectives. We learn from this and take this as inspiration to synergize,” said Anhuth.

Like other segments, significant trends are being seen in the bicycle tyre segment as well. Being serving the cyclists for over a century, Continental has a keen eye on emerging trends. “By today we have talked a lot about wider tyres in the classic Road tyre segment in the industry. We had stepped our way early in this field since we saw that increasing the comfort on the bikes was a real topic in the cycling community.”

If the passion and trends are evolving, so are technologies in the bicycle tyre segment. The company introduced the revolution to the tubeless market with the Grand Prix 5000 TL launch back in 2018. With the solution, ambitioned road cyclists finally had the chance to step their way into tubeless, without the discomfort of the early inventions of this technology. 

“Overall we definitely see the ongoing diversification of the formerly classified segments, Road, MTB, Urban/Tour, but in the same instance also the need for simplicity. This may appear as a contradiction but in fact, only shows how big the demand for a proper bike setup is. The goal we are working for is to provide cyclists with easy access to what they like most: riding their bike, without having to care too much for their tyre setup,” said Anhuth.

When it comes to technologies, Continental shares the same passion for bicycle tyres as it does for car tyres. For an instant, its Black Chili compound provides high grip not only in Continental bicycle tyres but in the company’s high-performance car tyres as well.

In its technology and development centre in Korbach, Continental is continuously developing new revolutionary technologies such as the unbeatable Black Chili compound and the ultimate Vectran breaker anti-puncture technology, both used at the top end of race sport.

These technologies demand sophisticated processes to ensure its legendary end-product quality, and these innovations, as well as the ProTection and RaceSport technology for MTB tyres, can only be manufactured in Continental’s factory in Germany.  

Continental has been associated with Tour De France, the iconic cross country bicycle race. “With the Tour de France as the queen of the tours, it is clear that we talk about the strong heritage we have in common.”

Over the decades Continental and Tour De France are working together with the professional teams, and Continental tyres always have been the preferred go-to-brand for many of the decorated winners of the last years.

“The activation of the Tour de France is a shared project we are happy to realize together with our colleagues from the PLT tyre segment. For us, this collaboration just underlines the important role that road cycling plays for many people,” said Anhuth.

“We love to enrich the strong connection with our community, be it merely online at the moment, due to the current situation, but hopefully soon in real life again, too. Learning from the cyclists, be it the ambitioned ones or the professionals, and transferring these gains into solutions, will stay a core driver for us,” he added.

ENDS

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Mumbai-headquartered rubber chemicals manufacturer NOCIL has announced capacity enhancement at its Dahej plant with an additional capital infusion of INR 1.3 billion, largely funded through internal accruals. The new investment is expected to be completed by H1 FY2028.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the company’s release of its financial results for Q1 FY2027, with revenue growing 20 percent YoY to INR 4.03 billion. It attributed the revenue growth to increased selling prices of input costs.

On the other hand, improved operating efficiency and inventory gains saw EBITDA margin rise by 210 basis points to reach 11.2 percent, while net profit grew by 61 percent to INR 280 million.

The volumes grew by 9 percent on the back of robust demand in the domestic market, following the GST 2.0 bonanza, while exports continue to see smart uptick. 

The capacity enhancement at Dahej is primarily focused on expanding volumes for peak-utilisation rubber chemical products, through an integrated, backwards-integrated facility. The new investment builds on the earlier announced CAPEX outline of INR 2.5 billion already underway, wherein trial production has already commenced.

V S Anand, Managing Director, NOCIL, said, “Our performance this quarter reflects consistent execution across both our domestic and export businesses in a challenging environment. Beyond the numbers, we are equally focused on building for the future, Our expanded investment at Dahej reinforces our commitment to structured capacity augmentation, backward integration and long-term competitiveness in a market that is increasingly looking to India as a reliable manufacturing partner.”

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd (BKT) reported record quarterly sales volumes in its core off-highway tyre (OHT) business in the first quarter of FY27, supported by robust demand across India, Europe and the Americas, even as rising raw material costs, freight inflation and geopolitical disruptions squeezed margins.

The company posted 16 percent year-on-year growth in OHT sales volumes to 93,770 metric tonnes, while standalone revenue rose 24 percent to INR 34.09 billion. EBITDA increased to INR 7.03 billion, representing an EBITDA margin of 20.61 percent, while profit after tax reached INR 4.32 billion.

"Q1 started on a positive note for us. We delivered our highest quarterly sales volume in the OHT segment," Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, said. He noted that the performance came "despite the challenges across many international geographies and end markets, as well as within the supply chain of the world", highlighting the resilience of demand across key markets.

Management said profitability was affected by higher raw material prices stemming from global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions, although the impact was partly offset through price increases introduced during the quarter.

BKT accelerates investment programme

BKT continues to advance one of the largest expansion programmes in its history.

The company has already invested approximately INR 38 billion under its broader INR 68 billion capital expenditure programme, with around INR 30 billion yet to be deployed. Of the remaining investment, INR 15-20 billion is expected to be spent during FY27 after capital expenditure of about INR 10 billion in the first quarter.

Completed projects include:

• Commissioning the second phase of its carbon black facility at Bhuj, increasing annual capacity to 360,000 tonnes, with an investment of INR 8 billion.
• Expanding captive power generation capacity from 40 MW to 64 MW, involving an investment of INR 1.25 billion.

"All the balanced CapEx projects, which are amounting to approximately INR 30 billion, are progressing as per schedule,” added Poddar.

On-highway business begins commercial rollout

Beyond its dominant OHT franchise, BKT has formally entered India's truck and bus radial (TBR) and two-wheeler tyre markets.

The company began commercial supplies after establishing its distribution network during the quarter and reported encouraging initial customer response. Although management declined to disclose revenue or volume figures given the early stage of the business, it expects sales to begin ramping up from the second quarter. "Having seeded the business in Q1, we expect a gradual ramp-up starting in Q2," Poddar said.

The long-term target remains INR 50 billion in on-highway tyre revenue by 2030. Satish Sharma, Senior President and Director of Strategy and Business Development, said FY27 would focus on expanding the portfolio before accelerating growth. "The vision statement states that INR 50 billion revenue from on-highway tyres by 2030. We're standing on that figure... FY 2028 onwards will be serious business."

India becomes larger contributor

India accounted for 40 percent of total volumes during the quarter, driven by demand from agriculture, construction, mining and industrial applications. Management said infrastructure investment and market share gains continue to support domestic growth, although margins in India remain marginally below export markets.

BKT estimates its market share at 18-19 percent in India, 7-8 percent in Europe and 3-4 percent in the United States, with inventory levels across key markets remaining normal.

Management also expects the US business to recover to its historical contribution of 15-16 percent of revenue, supported by improved tariff clarity and stronger brand positioning.

Inflation remains the principal challenge

BKT introduced approximately 5 percent price increases during the first quarter, with the full benefit expected to be realised in Q2. "We have taken on a price hike of about 5%, scattered across the various parts of the quarter. You will see the full passthrough coming in this quarter," Poddar said.

However, management said raw material costs have also increased by around 5 percent, potentially reducing margins by roughly 2 percentage points despite the pricing action.

Freight costs currently represent about 5 percent of revenue, with executives warning that continuing geopolitical tensions could lead to further increases.

The company also identified supply chain disruptions, vessel availability, container shortages, weather conditions in Europe and monsoon variability in India among the principal risks for the coming quarters.

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Cabot Corporation has announced a significant leadership transition, with President and Chief Executive Officer Sean Keohane set to retire from his roles and step down from the Board of Directors, effective 30 September 2026. The company has elected Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Strategy Erica McLaughlin to succeed him. McLaughlin will assume the positions of President and CEO, in addition to joining the Board as a member of the class whose term concludes at the 2029 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, effective 1 October 2026.

To facilitate a seamless handover, Keohane will remain with Cabot in an advisory capacity through the end of the 2026 calendar year. Concurrent with McLaughlin’s elevation, the company has initiated a formal search process to identify her replacement as Chief Financial Officer.

McLaughlin brings over two decades of experience to her new role, having joined Cabot in 2002 and holding various senior leadership posts across finance, strategy and the Reinforcement Materials division. Since assuming her current position in 2018, she has been instrumental in shaping corporate strategy and driving operational discipline. Her prior roles included Vice President of Business Operations for Reinforcement Materials, General Manager of its tire business and Vice President of Investor Relations. Beyond Cabot, she contributes her expertise as a board member for Azenta Life Sciences and as an advisor to FM Global.

Keohane’s distinguished tenure spans nearly 25 years, with his service as President and CEO beginning in 2016. His leadership was marked by significant portfolio refinement, the strengthening of core businesses, and the successful expansion into battery materials. He also advanced the company’s sustainability agenda and commitment to operational excellence, delivering robust performance and sustained shareholder value throughout his career.

Board Chair Michael Morrow said, “Erica brings deep industry expertise and a strong understanding of Cabot’s businesses, markets and global operations. This experience, coupled with her commitment to the company’s long-term strategic priorities, positions her exceptionally well to lead Cabot. Our decision to appoint Erica as the next President and CEO reflects a thoughtful and deliberate succession planning process. Her deep knowledge of the organisation and commitment to the values and culture that have been integral to Cabot’s success will provide continuity as we execute this leadership transition. We believe she brings the leadership, discipline and strategic clarity needed to lead Cabot forward and deliver on our long-term vision.

“The Board is deeply appreciative of Sean’s exceptional leadership and distinguished career at Cabot. We extend our congratulations on a well-deserved retirement. During his tenure as CEO, Sean provided strong, steady and thoughtful leadership, focusing the company’s portfolio around its core businesses and advancing new strategic long-term growth priorities. His collaborative leadership style has strengthened our organisation and leadership team, leaving a strong foundation for continued success in the years ahead.”

McLaughlin said, “I am deeply honoured to succeed Sean as President and CEO and lead Cabot into our next chapter. Having been at Cabot for close to 25 years, I know firsthand the strength of our people and our businesses. I look forward to working with the Board and our global team to build on our success, grow the company by supporting our customers with innovative chemistry solutions to advance their businesses and create value for our stockholders.”

Keohane said, “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead Cabot and to work alongside such a talented and dedicated global team. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and the foundation we have created. I am confident Cabot is in excellent hands under Erica’s leadership. We have worked side by side for almost my entire tenure as CEO and I have seen first-hand her strong leadership, operational discipline and sharp strategic mind. Erica is a trusted and highly capable leader with deep knowledge of our business and a commitment to our people, the culture and the unique heritage of this great company. I look forward to supporting a seamless transition in the months ahead.”

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Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF). Her appointment recognises her leadership within both the recycled materials and tyre manufacturing sectors. In this new capacity, Wiener will support the Foundation's mission to enhance the tyre recycling supply chain and foster the growth of innovative markets for recycled tyre materials.

TRF, a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the Tire Industry Association, aims to drive circularity and sustainability in the US tyre recycling industry. Wiener joins a board of global industry leaders dedicated to securing funding and allocating grants for critical research and demonstration projects.

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