AKRON—Goodyear has noted a "recent stabilization" in its raw material costs following a sharp spike and then rapid retreat in prices over the last six months.
In a June 14 presentation to analysts, Goodyear charted a 35-percent rise in natural rubber prices between last December and mid-February from 80 cents per pound to $1.05 per pound.
This increase in NR spot prices, though, was completely wiped out by the end of March and continued to slump, almost down to 60 cents per pound by early June.
Butadiene spot prices followed an even more dramatic track: more than doubling to $1.20 per pound during December and January before a steady decline took prices back to around 60 cents per pound this May.
Goodyear's figures indicated a fairly stable trend in butadiene prices since May, but less certainty around the direction-of-travel for NR prices.