The U.S. is struggling to force Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. Despite President Donald Trump’s aggressive tactics—including airstrikes, naval blockades, and threats—restoring prewar shipping…
US inflation cooled sharply in June as gasoline prices tumbled, pulling the annual rate down to 3.5% from 4.2% in May, the Labor Department reported on July 14, 2026. The monthly decline of 0.4% marked the largest drop in four…
Oil prices have surged over $85 as fighting intensifies in the Middle East, with Brent crude rising 4.1% to $86.73 a barrel and US benchmark crude up 3.1% at $80.55 a barrel. The uncertainty over the future stability of supplies…
Stellantis has reported a significant increase in shipments worldwide, with a total of 1,597,000 vehicles shipped in the second quarter, representing a 10 percent increase from the same period last year. The company’s North American shipments surged 38 percent, from…
The Volkswagen Group, which has already announced plans to cut 50,000 jobs, may be considering doubling that figure to 100,000, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. CEO Oliver Blume has stated that the company’s costs are 20% higher…
3M has inked a multi-year deal to serve as the official materials science partner of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, the Minnesota-based conglomerate announced on 30 June. The collaboration will focus on lightweight materials, bonding and surface-prep tech, manufacturing optimization,…
Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB, a waste tire pyrolysis company, has raised €322,000 through a directed issue of 20 million new shares to Alumni Capital Ltd under an existing share-based financing agreement. The shares were issued at SEK0.1785 each, which corresponds…
Dutch researchers at the University of Twente have unveiled a simple yet credible lab method to study tire wear initiation by focusing on the earliest local contact event using a scratch-based test. Instead of full-scale wear testing, the team—led by…
Natural rubber futures maintained their strength across major Far East exchanges last week despite light trading volumes, according to data from the Japan Exchange Group (JPX) released on 13 July 2026. The week ending 10 July saw prices firm up…
Europe’s tire manufacturers are calling on the European Commission to strengthen the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) to support the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the EU tire industry. In a position paper, Tyres Europe welcomed the Commission’s recognition of tire…