US President Donald Trump stated that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached as early as August 5, as Iran and Oman are nearing an agreement. The strait’s closure has halted shipping and disrupted a route…
Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd has expanded its rubber recycling programme to include production scrap from Toyoda Gosei East Japan’s Miyagi Kurihara plant, marking the first time the company is collecting rubber scrap from another entity within the broader Toyoda Gosei…
German rubber compound specialist Gummiwerk Kraiburg has installed a new rubber mixing line at one of its German plants, featuring an HF Group IM190E internal mixer as part of a brownfield production upgrade. The project replaced an existing K5 mixer…
Univar Solutions has finalized the acquisition of HM Royal, a century-old US distributor specializing in rubber, plastics, and adhesive additives, the company confirmed on 3 August 2026. The deal, announced by Downers Grove, Illinois-based Univar, is designed to bolster its…
French supplier Hutchinson has entered a strategic partnership with Chinese humanoid robot developer Leju Robotics to develop technologies and applications for embodied robots in industrial manufacturing. The agreement positions Leju as Hutchinson’s key embodied intelligence partner in China. Hutchinson will…
The European rubber compounding sector shows tentative signs of recovery in 2026 after two consecutive years of decline, according to the latest ERJ Compounding Survey. While overall sales among respondents dipped in 2025, the downward trend appears to be easing,…
Two former Volkswagen engineers, Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud charges related to alleged insider trading on a $5 billion joint venture between Volkswagen and Rivian Automotive. Prosecutors claim the defendants made…
Major oil companies reported massive profit surges as the ongoing conflict in Iran disrupted global energy markets, driving fuel prices sharply higher. Six of Europe’s largest oil firms posted combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion—over 40% higher than the previous…
Iran and Oman have made progress toward a landmark agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments, regional officials confirmed on August 4, 2026. The emerging deal would establish separate entry and…
Saudi Aramco warned on August 4, 2026, that global refineries outside conflict zones are operating at near-maximum capacity, leaving little room to absorb supply shocks as fuel prices remain elevated. The world’s largest oil company said the combination of the…