The chloroprene rubber (CR) business of Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) has increased its revenue since Nov. 1 of last year, when operations started up at U.S. subsidiary Denka Performance Elastomer LLC. Domestically, however, the business has stagnated somewhat, with a decline in CR for vehicle parts due to a downturn in automotive production volume. Denka has also suffered declines in...
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Roll Production Up 7% in Q1 2016 Thanks to Capital Spending Plans
While production for rubber products languishes overall, domestic production volume of rubber and resin rolls is trending upward. According to statistics from the Japan Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (JRMA), year-on-year production volume has risen for four straight quarters from the second quarter of last year (April-June) through the first quarter of the current year (January-March). While production of rubber products used...

Yokohama Rubber’s New Advan Tire Shows off Capabilities at Test-ride Event
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) recently conducted a test-ride event for the latest additions to two of its tire lines. Conducted at the Japan Research Institute’s Shirosato Test Center, Ibaraki Prefecture, the company showcased its new high-performance sports tire, the Advan Fleva V701, and the Geolandar A/T G015 All-Terrain SUV and Truck Tire. The Advan was developed with the concept...
Yokohama Rubber Sets Up Employee Community Service Fund
In May 2016, Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) established the Yokohama Magokoro Fund, which allows employees to contribute to charitable organizations. Employees who wish to donate become members of the fund. Every month, 100 yen is deducted from their salary and accumulated in the fund. This money is then provided as financial assistance to NPOs and NGOs working to address...

Sumitomo Rubber Joins Light-Down Campaign to Cut Carbon Footprint
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) is once again participating in the Light-Down Campaign, an initiative led by the Ministry of the Environment to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. On June 21, Sumitomo Rubber switched off its outdoor lights between 8 pm and 10 pm at its 478 affiliated facilities across Japan, including its headquarters in Kobe City, group companies, factories...
Rubber Goods Exports and Imports Down for April
Both export and import value for rubber products declined year-on-year for the month of April, according to records collated by the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association. Sourced from Trade Statistics of Japan, the records show that the value of exported rubber products for April was 76.59 billion yen ($760 million), which makes for a year-on-year decline of 10.8 percent. It was...