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The global rubber industry is navigating a complex landscape in 2025, marked by a persistent shortfall in production and rising demand. For the fifth consecutive year, natural rubber production is expected to fall short of consumption, with output projected to increase marginally by 0.3% to 14.9 million metric tons, while demand is anticipated to grow by 1.8% to 15.6 million metric tons. This imbalance is driven by several factors, including stagnant output in major producing countries and a shift towards more profitable crops.

Continental has been awarded “Tire Manufacturer of the Year” at this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence. The premium tire manufacturer received a further honor for its tire plant in Lousado, Portugal, which can produce tires CO2-neutrally since last year. This makes Continental the only tire manufacturer to win two of the prestigious awards, outperforming the competition as “Tire Manufacturer of the Year” as well as in the category “Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing.” The awards were bestowed as part of the Tire Technology Expo on March 4 at the exhibition center in Hanover. They are regarded as some of the top honors in the industry.

At the Tire Technology Expo on March 4th 2025, VMI was presented with the Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year award for the next level of integrated quality monitoring for MAXX and MILEXX platforms. The award was received by Mr Mike Norman, CCO of VMI Group.

Akron, OH – The Rubber Division, ACS offers a Rubber Technology Training Award for an individual already in the rubber

Akron, OH – The Rubber Division ACS, is highlighting the work of several graduate level students from around the world

Zeon Corporation and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that they have agreed to establish a bench facility to demonstrate technology for producing butadiene from ethanol derived from plant-based and other sustainable materials with high efficiency. The facility will be installed at Zeon’s Tokuyama Plant (Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) and is scheduled to begin operating in 2026. It will enable the production of a certain amount of butadiene and facilitate the collection of various data that will be used to establish mass production.

March 19 – Course: Rubber Explained
This course was designed for sales and executives working in the rubber industry. Centered around practical explanations and basic fundamentals, this is the perfect course for the non-technical individual.

April 1 – Course: Sponge Rubber 101
This course was developed for those who currently make flexible cellular elastomer products and wish to expand their knowledge or students wanting to gain insights into these materials and how they can be used. This course will offer an overview of cellular material’s terminology, potential applications, economics, specifications, raw materials and compound construction. Additionally, there will be a review of the various processes used to produce cellular elastomer products, including mixing, various types of extrusion and molding.