Japan’s import volume of natural rubber in August increased 8.8 percent year-on-year, while the import value decreased 19 percent year-on-year, according to data compiled by The Rubber Trade Association of Japan based on the Ministry of Finance’s Trade Statistics of Japan. This represents the first year-on-year increase in six months for import volume, but the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year...
Materials
JSR Downwardly Revises Projected Business Results for 2016
Major Japanese synthetic rubber manufaturer JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) has downwardly revised its projected business results for fiscal 2016. Projected sales were adjusted to 367 billion yen ($3.51 billion), down 7.1 percent from 395 billion yen in the previous forecast. Operating income was revised to 26 billion yen, down 25.7 percent from 35 billion yen, while ordinary income is now projected...
Toyoda Gosei Develops New Rubber Technology, Halves Permanent Distortion
Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282) has developed material technology for rubber that easily regains its shape even after applications of force over long periods of time at high temperatures. The new technology holds promise for thinner, lighter and longer lasting sealing parts to be used in battery units of the next generation of vehicles – including electric cars (EV), plug-in...

Sumitomo Riko Establishes Manufacturing Base for Automotive Anti-vibration Rubber in Japan
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) recently held a ceremony in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, to mark the establishment of subsidiary SumiRiko Yamagata Co. Ltd., which will serve to manufacture and market automotive anti-vibration rubber. The ceremony was attended by Vice Governor of Yamagata Prefecture Tomoyuki Hosoya, Yonezawa City Mayor Masaru Nakagawa, Toyota Motor East Japan Inc. President Takeshi Shirane, Sumitomo Electric...
JSR Subsidiary to Launch Carbon Masterbatch Company in Mexico
Elastomix Co. Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary of major synthetic rubber manufacturer JSR Corp. (TYO:4185), has announced plans to establish a new company in Mexico for carbon masterbatch (CMB) manufacturing. Commercial production is slated to begin in 2018. Mexico is a major exporter to the North American automotive market. Elastomix aims to expand by establishing a manufacturing hub in the region...
JPCA Publishes Japanese Petrochemical Industry Almanac 2016
The Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) recently published the 2016 edition of its almanac “State of the Petrochemical Industry.” Published almost every year since 1961, the publication provides data about the Japanese petrochemical industry and the composition of the industry’s upstream supply chain. The almanac features an overview of the petrochemical industry, industry-related statistics, production capacity of main petrochemical products...