Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) said that Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has adopted liquid farnesene rubber (LFR) as a performance enhancing additive in the production of its latest winter tire, the Winter Maxx 02. This is the first time that LFR is used in car tires. LFR is a liquid rubber developed by Kuraray using farnesene, a new biologically derived...
The Isoprene Chemicals (IPC) division of Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) has posted a year-on-year 0.2-percent increase on operating profit for 2016, at 6.934 billion yen ($60.53 million). The modest increase comes on a 7.1-percent decline in year-on-year sales, at 51.083 billion yen. Despite performing strongly with fine chemicals, thermoplastic elastomers and liquid rubber, the division struggled with its heat-resistant polyamide...
Showa Denko KK (TYO:4004) is raising the price of its full line of chloroprene rubber (CR). Marketed as Showa Denko Chloroprene, the various grades of CR are being increased to at least 42 yen ($0.37) per kilogram, coming into effect for delivery from March 1. The company’s CR business is tied up in an environment that has gone into a...
Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) has announced that Manabu Yamamoto (60), director and senior managing executive officer, will become the company’s next president on April 1. Current President and Chief Executive Officer Shinsuke Yoshitaka (66) will be appointed as chairman of the board of directors. Speaking to press, Yoshitaka said that incoming president Yamamoto looks back on a long career in...
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...
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...
