RHA silica gaining share in tire markets

European Rubber Journal has a nice write up on Notch's current view on the market for rice husk ash (RHA) silica, which is finding increased use as a more sustainable alternative to conventionally produced precipitated silica in tires. The article includes an overview of Notch forecasts, as well as a listing of new RHA-based silica capacity coming on-stream from conventional silica suppliers. The article is based on a paper presented in March at the Tire Technology Expo in Hannover; the underlying data and forecasts are based on Notch's Silica Market Update report, which comes out every year and covers the global market for precipitated silica. (One correction: the article states that silica produced from RHA totals some 150 million tons annually, but that is the total for rice husks, a waste product of rice production. RHA silica production is a tiny fraction of that figure.)

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