Indian Tiremakers Shifting to Imported Rubber

Ongoing concerns over the availability of natural rubber have prompted India’s tiremakers to cast an envious eye on supplies from outside the country. Now the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), the organization representing 10 of India’s tire manufacturers, has handed the country’s Commerce Minister a statement saying the tire industry will more strongly rely on rubber imports.

According to an article published in The Economic Times on July 22, the statement communicates that this heavier use of imported natural rubber results from tiremakers’ production schedules being hit by limited availability of domestically-harvested natural rubber. Rising prices on the local market also play a role. ATMA chairman Anant Goenka said he hoped Minister of Commerce & Industry Anand Sharma would appreciate the necessity of this move.

The ATMA also repeated its demand for the reintroduction of a tariff quota system for natural rubber, as was in place in 2011 when 40,000 tons of the material was permitted into India at a lower duty of 7.5%. (Tyres & Accessories)

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."