Navigating an Unprecedented Global Market – Insights from John Vasuta, President Engineered Products

In a world defined by volatility, shifting trade flows, and economic uncertainty, Johns Manville Engineered Products continues to focus on long-term resilience and customer partnership. We sat down with John Vasuta, President of Johns Manville Engineered Products, to discuss the current market environment, how global forces are shaping our industry, and how JM is supporting customers through these complex times.

Q: John, how would you describe the currentglobal and regional market environment?

John Vasuta: I would describe today’s environment in a single word: unprecedented. We are experiencing a combination of global factors that usually occur one at a time - trade wars, regional conflicts, recessionary trends in major economies, and political instability. But today, they are happening simultaneously. 

This creates a level of complexity businesses have rarely faced before. Europe, in particular, is navigating a challenging mix of shrinking end markets, high energy costs, and a rapid influx of low‑priced imports - especially from Asia. At the same time, North America is transitioning from several years of strong post‑COVID demand to a more uncertain period marked by slower construction, shipping disruptions, and evolving customer structures. Across all regions, we see markets reshaping faster than at any point in the last decade.

Q: What external forces are having the biggestimpact on our industry today?

John Vasuta: Several forces are converging. In Europe, the most visible is the surge of Chinese imports, accelerated by U.S. tariffs that redirected material to the EU. In automotive, for example, China has grown from a negligible presence to 22% of the European market, while overall European auto production has dropped from around 15–16 million units to roughly 9 million. That shift affects OEMs, parts manufacturers, and every supplier in the value chain - including ours. 

We also continue to face structurally high energy prices, especially since the Russia–Ukraine war. Even after the initial spike tapered off, European energy costs remain two to three times above historical norms, putting glass fiber, chemicals, automotive, and other energy‑intensive industries at a disadvantage.

Finally, global logistics disruptions - whether the Suez Canal closures, Red Sea tensions, or Persian Gulf blockages - have meaningfully reduced available shipping capacity. All of this adds volatility to demand patterns in construction, automotive, and filtration, the markets we serve every day.

Q: Given all these challenges, what matters mostto our customers right now - and how is JM responding?

John Vasuta: More than ever, customers need reliability, transparency, and partnership. Our industry is not easy to run - glass fiber furnaces, spunbond lines, shingle plants, compounding lines - none of them turn on a dime. So, when the market shifts rapidly, being nimble becomes very difficult for everyone. 

That’s why close communication, tight forecasting, and agility are absolutely essential. We work as closely as possible with customers and vendors, sharing information, aligning goals, and adapting together when conditions change. Resiliency is a shared effort.

At JM, we focus on what we can control:

• Operational excellence 
• Cost discipline 
• Innovation and new business development 
• World‑class customer and technical service

And importantly, customers know they can count on us for the long term. With more than 165 years in business and the stability of Berkshire Hathaway behind us, we are committed to being a reliable partner through cycles - good and bad.

Q: What trends in materials and technology arelikely to shape the future for our customers?

John Vasuta: We are at a crossroads, where sustainability ambitions, regulatory expectations, and end‑market dynamics intersect - and the direction isn't always clear. Electrification, for example, continues to advance, but the pace varies by region: China is “all in,” Europe is strongly committed, and North America sees it as one option among many.

Across industries, though, several trends are undeniable:

• Lightweighting - leading to greater use of plastics and composites 
• Higher performance requirements, including tear resistance, water resistance, mold resistance, and fire performance 
• Materials efficiency, such as lighter shingles that improve logistics and installation 
• Growing demand for filtration solutions, driven by data centers, AI infrastructure, and clean air initiatives

We work closely with customers to track these shifts and innovate toward what their markets will require - not just today, but five, ten, and twenty years ahead.

Q: What message would you like to share withcustomers about the road ahead?

John Vasuta: The most important message is simple: JM is here for the long haul. 

We remain firmly committed to our business, our customers, and the markets we serve - today and for the future. We don’t manage quarter‑to‑quarter. We manage with a long‑term perspective, built on our values and guided by a consistent mission. Our goal is to be the partner of choice - trusted, resilient, and ready to grow together.

Even in difficult times, we focus on what we can control: quality, reliability, innovation, and service. That’s what has kept us strong for more than 165 years, and that’s what will drive our success for the next 165.