Indian Tyre Production up 9 per cent

January 2006 saw total tyre production in India rise 9 per cent to 5,623,048 tyres compared with January 2005. The figures calculated by the Indian Tyre Manufacturer’s association (ATMA) show that motorcycle tyre sales were up 15 per cent totalling 1,801,839 units. This particularly rapid growth is largely explained by the reclassification of moped tyres under the motorcycle heading, but also signifies production growth in the segment.

Passenger car tyre production increased to 1,230,869 units up 16 per cent from the same time last year. Truck and bus and light truck production increased to 946,730 (up 8 per cent) and 352,967 (up 14 per cent) respectively. Perhaps unsurprisingly in light of the current global shortage, OTR tyre production increased 37 per cent to 10,811 units in January.

But this was by no means the sharpest increase. The tractor segment experienced the strongest growth rates with the number of front tyres growing 24 per cent to 121,150 units. Rear product production grew to 96,040 (up 12 per cent), while tractor trailer tyres rocketed 62 per cent to 65,925 units in January. The ADV (Animal Drawn Vehicle) tyre segment grew similarly quickly peaking at 37292 (up 37 per cent) in January. Industrial tyre production grew 40 per cent to 47,187 units.

This growth in production is reflected in ATMA’s export statistics. While total exports for the month of January only went up 2 per cent to 452,302 units, OTR tyre exports were up 29 per cent totalling 2678 units. Meanwhile, following sharp increases in tractor tyre production, tractor front exports totalled 1496 (up 29 per cent) and tractor rear exports 13,507 (up 201 per cent).

The ATMA figures do not contain details of radialisation rates in the various segments.