Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) — a state enterprise under Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) — organized a training seminar in June 2024 aimed at helping Thai rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber.
This was the seventh workshop jointly organized by Yokohama Rubber and RAOT since 2020, reflecting their long-term partnership in promoting sustainable rubber cultivation.
Empowering Local Farmers with Knowledge and Fertilizer Support
A total of 70 farming households from the Surat Thani region participated in the event.
Through the workshop, they gained practical knowledge about:
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Selecting and planting high-quality rubber seedlings,
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The importance of proper fertilization,
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Preventing foreign materials from contaminating natural rubber.
As part of the initiative, Yokohama Rubber provided each participating farmer with 250 kg of fertilizer free of charge, based on RAOT’s agronomic recommendations.
Long-Term Partnership for Sustainable and Transparent Supply Chains
In January 2020, Yokohama Rubber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RAOT to jointly support Thai rubber farmers, improve traceability, and ensure transparency and integrity across the natural rubber supply chain.
This collaboration directly aligns with the company’s “Sustainable Natural Rubber Procurement Policy.”
As a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Yokohama revised its Sustainable Natural Rubber Procurement Policy in September 2021 and has since expanded cooperation with GPSNR initiatives.
The workshop in Thailand underscores the company’s commitment to the principle of “Supporting suppliers, including smallholders and other stakeholders involved in the supply chain.”
Yokohama Rubber reaffirmed that it will continue implementing and disclosing new initiatives consistent with its policy action guidelines, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the promotion of responsible and sustainable raw material sourcing.
India’s Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) Seeks Duty-Free Natural Rubber Imports
Meanwhile, the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) of India has requested the government to remove import duties on natural rubber (NR) to bridge the domestic supply-demand gap.
Currently, India imports nearly 40% of its NR requirements, and high import duties are reducing industry competitiveness.
ATMA pointed out that restrictive regulations — including limitations on ports of entry (currently only Chennai and Nava Sheva) — are further hampering the industry.
The association has also raised environmental concerns over the fivefold increase in scrap tyre imports since 2021, which undermines producer responsibility obligations and threatens safety and waste management standards.
Moreover, the tax structure needs urgent reform. While finished tyres face a 10–15% basic customs duty, tyres imported under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) often enjoy lower preferential rates, whereas the main raw material — natural rubber — carries higher import duties.
ATMA emphasized that reducing import duties on natural rubber and other key raw materials will enhance domestic manufacturing efficiency, support tyre exports, and boost the global competitiveness of India’s tyre industry.