Japan’s Import Volume of Natural Rubber Drops 3.3% for 2016

Japan’s import volume of natural rubber (NR) for 2016 decreased 3.3 percent year-on-year, falling to 655,312 tons, according to data compiled by the Rubber Trade Association of Japan from the Trade Statistics of Japan. Import value decreased 23.6 percent, dropping to 99.59045 billion yen ($875.59 million). The average import price fell 20.9 percent to hit 152 yen per kilogram, dropping...

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Kyoto University Proves Strength of Sumitomo Rubber’s Miraie Seismic Damper System

Since Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) launched its Miraie residential-purposed seismic damper units in March 2012, they have gone on to be installed in 18,000 buildings through the end of last year. After earning high praise in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, effectiveness has now also been proven by conducting a full-scale seismic test on Jan. 27 at Kyoto University’s Disaster Prevention...

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Habasit Broadens Timing Belt Lineup, Eyes Expanded Sales

Resin belt manufacturer Habasit Nippon Co. Ltd. is focusing its efforts on expanding its range and sales of timing belt products. The company is sequentially rolling out its December 2016 addition of wide timing belts, and is bolstering its technical support in such areas as attachments and design programs. Improving on a maximum width of 150 millimeters in its T10...

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Prices Trending High for Natural Rubber, Synthetic Rubber

Natural rubber (NR) continues to trend at high price levels, currently running at around double those of early 2016. A steep run-up has come in a short period of time, spiking since last autumn. The high prices are set to strongly impact profit margins of rubber product manufacturers. Most notable are tire manufacturers, who make heavy use of NR. Current...

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JSR Hikes Prices on Synthetic Rubber and Emulsion Products

JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) has raised its prices on synthetic rubber and emulsion products, starting with deliveries from Feb. 1. The company says that the hikes are in response to increased prices of raw materials in domestic naphtha. These come on the back of a weakening yen and the high price of crude oil, along with skyrocketing butadiene prices since last...

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For 70th Anniversary, Fukoku Bussan Eyes Foray Into ASEAN: CEO

With Fukoku Bussan Co. Ltd. approaching the 70th anniversary of its founding this coming May, CEO and President Yoshie Kibe spoke recently on the rubber industrial product trading company’s aspirations moving forward. The last few decades has seen the company develop joint venture factories and sales offices in China, Indonesia and Thailand, Kibe said. Looking forward, she said, the company...

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