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NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Zwevegem, Belgium, 2026/07/08 - Bekaert and CITIC Special Steel, one of China's leading special steel producers, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to explore new pathways towards circular tire reinforcement solutions - CITICSteel.com / Bekaert.com. Euronext: BEKB
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The agreement establishes a framework for technical collaboration focused on one fundamental question: how can steel recovered from end-of-life tires be reused to produce wire rod and, ultimately, new tire reinforcement products?
By combining CITIC Special Steel's expertise in advanced steelmaking and wire rod production with Bekaert's expertise in tire reinforcement technologies, both companies will work together to evaluate the technical feasibility of more circular material flows within the tire value chain.
Building knowledge through joint studies and industrial trials
The collaboration represents an early-stage proof-of-concept initiative focused on advancing the understanding of tire-to-tire circularity. The focus will be on joint technical studies, industrial trials and material evaluations to develop a deeper understanding of the technical, industrial and economic implications of using high shares of close-loop circular steel. The insights generated through the program will help both companies evaluate future pathways towards more circular tire reinforcement solutions while maintaining the quality and performance standards required by the industry.
As demand for circular solutions continues to grow across the automotive, steel and tire industries, both companies recognize that ecosystem innovation is needed to address future challenges. This cooperation is intended to expand knowledge, evaluate technical possibilities and help push boundaries of current technical feasibility to prepare for the industry needs of the future.
"The transition towards more circular industries requires innovation and close collaboration throughout the value chain", said Jim Dobson, SVP Technology & Quality at Bekaert. "Through this cooperation, we are bringing together complementary expertise to explore the technical feasibility of tire-to-tire circularity.”
"We are pleased to deepen our relationship with Bekaert through this strategic cooperation", said Jiang Qiao, General Manager of the Sales Company, CITIC Special Steel. "Together, we will explore how innovation in steelmaking and materials technology can help advance new approaches to circularity in tire reinforcement applications."
Supporting the future of sustainable tire reinforcement
The signing ceremony took place in Jiangyin, China, bringing together representatives from both organizations to discuss future collaboration opportunities and share perspectives on innovation, sustainability and circularity within the steel and tire industries.
This initiative builds on Bekaert’s broader efforts to advance sustainability in tire reinforcement through innovative solutions with increased high recycled content, optimized product carbon footprint and circular approaches such as Dramix® LoopTM. By establishing this strategic cooperation framework, Bekaert and CITIC Special Steel (citicsteel.com) reaffirm their shared commitment to innovation and to shaping the future of sustainability for the industry.
About Bekaert
Bekaert’s ambition (bekaert.com) is to be the leading partner for shaping the way we live and move, and to always do this in a way that is safe, smart, and sustainable. As a global market and technology leader in material science of steel wire transformation and coating technologies, Bekaert (bekaert.com) also applies its expertise beyond steel to create new solutions with innovative materials and services for markets including new mobility, sustainable construction, and energy transition. Founded in 1880, with its headquarters in Belgium, Bekaert (Euronext Brussels, BEKB) is a global technology company whose 21 000 employees worldwide together generated € 4.0 billion in consolidated sales in 2024.
Rubber Reinforcement is the largest division of Bekaert and a global market leader in advanced steel reinforcement solutions for tires, with a portfolio of tire cord and bead wire. Powered by a unique global manufacturing network, it delivers solutions that contribute to creating lighter, stronger, and more efficient tires, without compromising on quality or safety. Its flagship Elyta® range sets the benchmark for next-generation tire reinforcement, driving higher tensile strength in combination with superior performance.
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