Freight tonnage dipped in July, continuing a pattern of uneven recovery in the trucking sector, according to the latest American Trucking Associations (ATA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. The index fell 1% month-over-month to 113.5 in July from 114.7 in June,…
Home Depot reported a 5.7% year-over-year revenue increase to $47.86 billion for its second quarter, beating Wall Street expectations of $47.24 billion. Comparable store sales rose 1.7% globally and 1.3% in the U.S., driven by demand for smaller home-improvement projects…
Finnish bio-based materials giant UPM Biochemicals will begin shipping renewable functional fillers (RFFs) produced at its €1.37 billion Leuna, Germany biorefinery to customers by the end of September 2026. The facility, which represents a €1,370 million investment, has an annual…
Natural rubber (NR) futures slipped marginally during the second week of August as trading volumes and price action remained subdued across global exchanges. According to the Japan Exchange Group (JPX), the week ended 14 August saw “slow and subdued” activity,…
Global synthetic rubber (SR) production rankings for 2026 have been topped by Chinese giants, with Sinopec retaining its position as the world’s largest SR manufacturer. According to the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP), Sinopec maintained its ‘active’ SR…
U.S. Class 8 heavy-duty truck retail sales rose 2.2% year-over-year in July to 19,254 units, marking a second straight monthly increase despite ongoing regulatory uncertainty. The growth comes as fleets and manufacturers navigate proposed EPA emissions revisions that could ease…
Tyson Foods Inc. is set to close several beef plants in the US, including facilities in Illinois and Utah, and is pursuing the sale of another plant in Washington. The move is a response to the historic US cattle shortage,…
The global rubber and tire sector showed mixed signals this week, with share prices swinging across major manufacturers while raw material costs and financial results painted a nuanced picture of recovery and volatility. Bridgestone’s stock rose 3.5% to ¥4,129, while…
The world’s 50 largest non-tire rubber product manufacturers posted a combined sales increase of nearly 1% in 2025, reaching $85.1 billion, according to the latest survey by the European Rubber Journal. This marks a reversal from 2024, when the sector…
Toyo Tire Corp. has downgraded its full-year operating income forecast after weak tire markets, higher costs, and the impact of US tariffs crippled its first-half performance in 2026. For the six months ended 30 June 2026, the Japanese tire giant…