News

he Weir Group Plc (Weir) announces that, following ten years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) during which time he has led Weir’s strategic transformation into a global mining technology leader, and 16 years with Weir, Jon Stanton will step down as CEO on 1 August 2026. He will be succeeded by Andrew Neilson who will be elected to the Board of Directors, after the conclusion of the AGM, and will become CEO Designate, before assuming full responsibilities as CEO on 1 August.

Mr. Ville Mansikkamäki (Executive MBA, BSc (Eng) in Logistics) has been appointed Senior Vice President, Heavy Tyres at Nokian Tyres and a member of the Nokian Tyres Management Team. Ville Mansikkamäki will start in the position by October 1, 2026. He will be located in Nokia, Finland and reports to President and CEO Paolo Pompei.

The initiative, called the Traceability and Transparency Pilot Project, has been carried out since 2022 in South Sumatra, Indonesia, through Dunlop’s procurement subsidiary Sumitomo Rubber Singapore Pte. Ltd. and supply chain partner Halcyon Agri Corporation Ltd. and its Indonesian subsidiary PT Hok Tong.

The program focused on supporting smallholder rubber farmers by improving cultivation practices, providing agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, and strengthening traceability and transparency in the natural rubber supply chain.

Lanxess AG announced it is maintaining its full-year 2026 earnings outlook despite a weak start to the year marked by lower sales, continued pricing pressure and geopolitical disruptions that are reshaping supply chains in the chemicals industry.

The specialty chemicals company reported first-quarter sales of 1.378 billion euros, down 13.9% from the same period a year earlier. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for exceptional items, fell 29.3% to 94 million euros.

AUMOVIO concluded the first quarter of 2026 amid a persistently challenging market environment and delivered clear improvements in adjusted EBIT as well as adjusted and normalized free cash flow.

Adjusted consolidated sales came in at €4.4 billion, representing a decline of 7.8 percent year-on-year (Q1 2025: €4.8 billion). In addition to the realignment of the product and technology portfolio as part of the company’s comprehensive transformation, adverse foreign exchange effects weighed on sales. Adjusted EBIT climbed by 14.3 percent to €106 million (Q1 2025: €93 million), and the adjusted EBIT margin rose to 2.4 percent (Q1 2025: 1.9 percent).

Albemarle Corp., reported sharply higher first-quarter earnings driven by stronger pricing and demand in its energy storage and specialty materials businesses. Revenue rose 33% to $1.43 billion, fueled by higher volumes and prices in its energy storage and specialty segments. Energy storage sales increased 70% to $891.2 million, with pricing up 51% and volumes up 14%. Specialty sales also increased during the quarter.

The company posted net income of $319.1 million, or $2.34 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared with $41.3 million, or breakeven on a per-share basis, a year earlier.

Sales growth in the first quarter was driven by strong performance in major markets such as Europe and North America. In addition, the recent plant expansion in Europe improved production stability, leading to increased sales from existing customers and more new clients. The company also maintained stable growth in original equipment (OE) sales thanks to its diversified product portfolio, even with the downturn in global automotive demand.

AirBoss of America Corp. reported higher first-quarter profit and adjusted EBITDA Tuesday as growth in its defense products business and improved performance in rubber molded products offset continued softness in industrial markets.

The company reported profit of $2.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, compared with a loss of $408,000 in the same period a year earlier. Adjusted profit rose to $2.3 million from a loss of $408,000 a year earlier.

Solvay reported lower first-quarter sales in 2026 but maintained solid profitability, supported by cost reductions, portfolio optimization and one-time gains.

Net sales fell 8.5% on an organic basis to 997 million euros compared with the same period a year earlier, reflecting weaker volumes across most businesses and pricing pressure, particularly in soda ash and Coatis.