Cordiant has found Russian rubber for tires

The Russian manufacturer of automobile tires “Cordiant” will use domestic synthetic isoprene rubber by SIBUR instead of imported natural rubber for tire production. The agreement of intent to jointly achieve the technological sovereignty of the domestic transport industry by replacing imports of natural rubber from the Asia-Pacific countries was signed by the companies at the beginning of June at the #SPIEF.

According to Cordiant, the share of natural rubber, the only source of which remains imports, in Russian tires now stands at 24%.

SIBUR proposes to replace it with isoprene rubber of the SKI 970 brand of its own production, followed by bench and field tests of experimental tires. It is expected that the use of synthetic rubbers, among other things, will improve the quality of tires by increasing the uniformity of the material.

The partners will also consider the possibility of developing new brands of synthetic rubber and searching for prescription solutions, including for the production of premium tires and improving their performance. This initiative will increase the production of tires to meet the needs of consumers, as well as expand the export potential of the Russian automotive industry.

With the withdrawal of foreign tire companies from the Russian market, the termination of support for R&D centers and the ban on imports of synthetic rubbers and chemicals from the EU to Russia, there was a risk of stopping a number of tire industries. Therefore, since 2023, SIBUR has invested 200 million rubles in a project to support tire customers, including the development of new brands and the adaptation of rubber compounds.

In particular, thanks to this project, imports of synthetic rubbers to Russia decreased from 11% in 2021 to 1% in 2023. By the end of 2023, SIBUR replaced seven imported brands of synthetic rubbers, certified 50 positions of non-rubber raw materials, which increased the load of Russian tire manufacturers.

@yoprom

Photo: “Cordiant”