Resilient Rubber Supply Chains

The rubber industry in Germany witnessed a recovery during the first half of 2021 despite the problems with rubber supplies in the EU countries.

According to the German rubber association WDK, rubber sales increased in the last quarter. They stood 16.5 percent higher if compared with last year. However, if compared to the rates recorded in 2019, the sales declined 6 percent.

According to WDK forecast, rubber sales will escalate by 9 percent compared in comparison with last year and will reach €10.2 billion by the end of 2021

Tire sales also saw an increase and rose over €3 billion. The German rubber association has shared its statistics in which the authoritative body claimed that the producers manufactured 420 kilotons of tires. This is almost 25 percent higher compared to the amount they had produced last year.

Additionally, more tires have been purchased this year compared to 2020, according to the WDK. The statistics rose 49 percent, thus, the utilization rate exceeded 90 percent.

Some authorities also warned that vehicle producers face challenges this year due to raw materials shortages. This makes manufacturing process harder.

The key suppliers ran out of rubber, and the pandemic made the logistics of rubber deliveries to Germany more complicated. The German rubber association urged the national authorities to come up with solutions that would help rubber production.

Learn More:

• Recovered Carbon Black (rCB Technology & Applications)
  → https://kleanindustries.com/products/recovered-carbon-black/
• Tire Pyrolysis Systems & ELT Conversion
  → https://kleanindustries.com/products/tire-pyrolysis/
• Pyrolysis Oil (TPO) as Industrial Feedstock
  → https://kleanindustries.com/insights/
• Klean Circular Economy Projects
  → https://kleanindustries.com/projects/
• Waste-to-Value Technology Solutions
  → https://kleanindustries.com/solutions/

Secure Your Rubber Feedstock Supply with Klean Industries

Germany’s rubber industry recovery highlights a critical global challenge: dependence on volatile raw material supply chains is no longer sustainable.

Despite shortages, the sector achieved:

• +16.5% sales growth year-over-year
• Tire production increases of ~25% compared to the previous year
• Utilization rates exceeding 90% capacity

At the same time, supply constraints exposed a key vulnerability: limited access to natural and synthetic rubber feedstocks.

Klean Industries enables companies to reduce this risk by transitioning to circular, domestically sourced materials:

• Conversion of end-of-life tyres into recovered carbon black (rCB), fuels, and reusable materials
• Production of alternative feedstocks that reduce reliance on virgin rubber markets
• Integration of recycling infrastructure into existing manufacturing supply chains
• Proven expertise in building resilient, circular material ecosystems

As raw material volatility continues, the competitive advantage will belong to companies that control secondary feedstock supply and processing technology.

Contact Klean Industries to build a resilient rubber supply chain » GO.