Indian Tyre Production up 18 per cent

The latest ATMA figures show that during the month of July Indian tyre production rose 18 per cent year-on-year to 6.354 million units. This follows a 19 per cent year-on-year growth in production during June (06/2005: 5.19 million units; 06/2006: 6.187 million). The latest increase was fuelled by sharp rises in passenger car and tractor tyre production. Passenger car tyre production reached 1.28 million units in July, up 16 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Agricultural tyre production rocketed 26 per cent for front tyres, 15 per cent for rear axle products and 38 per cent for trailer products. July 2006 volumes in this segment totalled 145,484; 107,592; and 56,211 respectively.

Interestingly the sharp production increases were not generally reflected in the export figures. In July exports were down 1 per cent year-on-year after growing 3 per cent year-on-year in July. Most sub-segments were down in July with the exception of light truck tyres, which were up 7 per cent to 117,937 units; motorcycles – up 30 per cent to 9011 units; and OTR tyres – up 61 per cent to 3284 units.