The price of Japanese-made naphtha, an indicator of synthetic rubber prices, was 47,200 yen ($380) per kiloliter for the third quarter (July–September), down by more than 3 percent, or 1,600 yen ($13), over the second quarter (April–June). Naphtha prices are expected to drop further in the October–December period. Falling raw material prices look to continue as a factor in tire...
In the first three quarters of 2015 (January–September), consolidated financial results for four Japanese tire manufacturers—Bridgestone Corp., Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., and Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd.—showed large gains in operating income thanks to low prices for crude oil, natural rubber and synthetic rubber. The lower raw material prices translated into gains for Bridgestone of...
Net sales in Japan for the hoses and couplings business of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. dropped year-on-year in the first half of 2015 (January–June). Although the company began full-fledged sales of high-pressure hydrogen gas hoses for hydrogen filling stations and received a boost in sales from new automobile hose products, hydraulic hose sales shrank due to lower output by construction...
