While the first half (January-June for fiscal years ending December 31, 2024) earnings results of Japan’s four tire makers were record highs and the first quarter (April-June for fiscal years ending March 31, 2025) earnings results of industrial goods makers were also solid, rubber product makers and trading company officials said that despite these figures, there is no positive response...
Industry
CEMA Publishes Construction Machinery Demand Forecast
The Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) recently released its construction machinery demand forecasts for fiscal 2024 (April 2023-March 2024) and fiscal 2025 (April 2024-March 2025). The forecasts are based on a survey conducted in July among 61 regular members of the association. According to the survey, Japanese domestic shipments in fiscal 2024 are expected to slightly decline for the...
Japan Belting Industry Association Releases Conveyor and Plastic Belt Sales Ratios for First Half
On August 27, the Japan Belting Industry Association announced the sales ratios of conveyor belts and plastic belts by destination for the first half of 2024 (January-June). According to the report, Japanese domestic sales of conveyor belts accounted for 72.9% of total sales by destination (in value terms), with sales value up 10% year-on-year. Exports accounted for 27.1%, with sales...
Nara to Host 72nd International ISO/TC45 Conference in October
The 72nd International Conference of ISO/TC45, the ISO standard for rubber and rubber products, will be held at the Nara Convention Center in Nara Prefecture from October 21 to 25. This is the third time that the ISO/TC45 conference will be held in Japan, following Kyoto in 2002 and Yokohama in 2011. About 20 countries are expected to participate. The...
Zeon Files Lawsuit Against Arlanxeo for Battery Material Patent Infringement
Zeon has filed a lawsuit in Germany against Arlanxeo, seeking an injunction and damages for infringement of Zeon’s German patent on lithium-ion battery materials and an injunction against the manufacture and sale of such products in Germany. The lawsuit seeks an injunction and damages for the manufacture and sale in Germany of Arlanxeo products, which the company believes are manufactured...
Japan’s Rubber Unions Secure Average Pay Raises of 14,508 Yen, 1.62M Bonus in Labor Offensive
Gomu Rengo, the Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation, has announced the results of its spring 2024 labor offensive. According to the report, 51 of the 52 member unions reached wage agreements and all 52 unions reached lump-sum pay agreements. The average wage increase among the 47 unions with definite wage amounts was 14,508 yen ($100), or 4.85% of the previous...