Sumitomo Riko to Establish Chinese Headquarters for Automotive Business

Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) is looking to target local OEMs by establishing a Chinese headquarters for its automotive business next April. Located in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, the new headquarters will come as part of a broader company initiative to strengthen its business system in China – the hope here being to speed up local sales growth for auto parts....

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Toyo Tires Targets Boxy Cars as Focus of Studless Winter Tire Business

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5105) is focusing its sales of studless winter tires on the Winter Tranpath TX, a tire launched last year for exclusive use with boxy cars, including SUVs and minivans. The Winter Tranpath TX helps to limit the characteristic wobbling of high-roofed, boxy cars. And as a studless winter tire specialized for use with these...

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Sumitomo Rubber to Launch Japanese Sales of US-Developed Motorcycle Tires

Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) plans to launch Japanese sales of the Dunlop Sportmax Q4 hypersport radial motorcycle tire. Developed and produced in the U.S., the tire is set for phased-in Japanese sales from March 1, 2019. One front tire size and five rear tire sizes are to go on sale. The first Sumitomo Rubber hypersport radial to be sold...

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Promising Signs Emerge in Japanese Market for Studless Winter Tires

While snowy conditions around Japan have started later than average this winter, recent developments are hinting at a more favorable tailwind for sales of studless winter tires. Coming into mid-December, northern Japan is finally seeing full-fledged winter conditions, while elsewhere even parts of the Kanto region are beginning to see snowfall. Publishing a demand forecast this summer for the second...

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Japan’s Rubber Hose Production Expected to Rise 0.2% for 2019

Japan’s production of rubber hoses is expected to total 38,530 tons for 2019, according to a recent report from the Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association. This would represent production growth of 0.2 percent over figures projected for 2018. Looking at automotive hoses, production is projected to rise 0.1 percent year-on-year to reach 24,650 tons for 2019. Factored into this is...

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Japan’s Rubber Belt Production Expected to Stay Around Current Levels for 2019

The Japan Belting Manufacturers Association has projected that Japan’s production of rubber belts for 2019 will come to a total of 26,619 tons, sitting at a similar level to figures from 2018. Domestic demand is expected to account for 19,660 tons of this total, down by 2 percent, with exports rising by 6 percent to reach 6,959 tons. Conveyor belt...

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