Brazil to follow global trends in “green” tires

Global trends in the eco-efficiency of tires, led by new European legislation that will come into force in 2012 and new regulations under review in the U.S. and Japan, are expected to be taken up in Brazil within a short period of time, Lanxess’ CEO in Brazil, Marcelo Lacerda, said. From 2012, passenger tires sold in Europe will be labeled according to fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise, while similar standards will be part of new regulations under study in other developed nations. Such trends are expected to drive demand for high performance rubber globally. “Lanxess supplies the raw material to the world’s largest tire producers. Therefore, such players, and Lanxess as well, look at making high-performance products independently of the region,” Lacerda said. “I believe Brazil will also adopt similar legislation very quickly since this is an irreversible global trend,” he said. (September 21, 2010)