Brazilian rubber industry showcased at Expobor 2026 with awards and growth plan

The Expobor 2026 trade fair in São Paulo highlighted the Brazilian rubber industry with the presentation of the Expobor Brazil 2026 Awards. Winners were recognized across categories such as Innovation and Digital Transformation (Turbo Color Service), Sustainability (ECORUBBER), Partnerships (Polimix), Raw‑Material Technologies (Polimix), Training (FM Pneus), and individual achievements including João Vizagré and Suzane de Azevedo. Rento Cordeiro, head of B2B events at Francal, said the prize “values initiatives that strengthen competitiveness, encourage innovation and expand the national industry's presence in domestic and international markets.”

During the same event, Albino Fernando Calantuono of FIESP delivered a diagnostic of the sector, noting that imported rubber products account for 43% of the Brazilian market and that the industry faces high domestic costs, lack of long‑term industrial policy, and growing competition from plastics. China leads in most rubber categories and holds 18.4% of global exports, while Brazil ranks 30th with just 0.7% market share. Calantuono highlighted opportunities for Brazil to reposition its rubber chain through lower carbon footprints, higher value‑added products, and circular‑economy solutions. He called for consistent technological and industrial policies, certification, traceability, and regulation to boost competitiveness. The SENAI system announced investments of R$ 10 million for an elastomer laboratory in São Bernardo do Campo and additional R$ 3 million for rubber‑focused training programs, aiming to support high‑performance applications across automotive, construction, aerospace, and medical sectors.