Speaking at an online results briefing on Feb. 9, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) President Satoru Yamamoto commented on his company’s performance in coming out of the slump in global tire demand. Sumitomo Rubber’s sales, he said, are seen to be recovering faster than overall market demand. And what is more, he added, the company is projecting a particularly fast...
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Container Shortage Affects Rubber Industry, Driving Concerns Around Supply Stability and Cost Hikes
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to make it difficult to secure containers for imports and exports, and Japan’s rubber industry is no exception. Further, with the potential for the issues here to not only hinder stable product supply but also drive up costs, there are a number of players in the industry voicing concern over the current state of affairs. As...
Goodyear Japan to Launch New Minivan Tire Promising More Comfortable Travel
Nippon Goodyear KK is set to launch a new tire, the EfficientGrip RVF02, on March 1. The tire has been designed specifically for use on minivans, with Goodyear going about this by paying heed to the quirks of such vehicles – such as their characteristic wobbling from side to side due to their height. The result is a tire that...

Continental Tire Japan to Launch New Tire With Significantly Improved Snow and Wet Braking
Continental Tire Japan Co. Ltd. is planning a March 1 domestic rollout for its new sports tire, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. The company will make the tire available in an extensive lineup of sizes. Compatible with a wide range of vehicles ranging from sports cars, premium sedans, SUVs and CUVs through to minivans, the DWS06 Plus is well suited to...
Bridgestone Promises Quiet SUV Driving With Launch of New On-Road Tire
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) on Feb. 1 launched the Alenza LX100, a premium comfort-focused SUV tire for on-road use. Designed for use with on-road SUV use – a growing trend in the Japanese SUV market – the LX100 features 3D noise-reducing grooves for cutting down on high-frequency noise. Further, it features “secret grooves” for keeping an optimal tread pattern as the...
Denka Takes Hit to Sales Results Despite Recovery for Chloroprene Rubber
Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) has released its business results for the first three quarters of fiscal 2020. The company revealed sales revenue of 261.99 billion yen ($2.51 billion) for the April–December period, down 9.2 percent year-on-year; an operating income of 28.03 billion yen, up 16.7 percent; an ordinary income of 27.3 billion yen, up 20.2 percent; and a net income...