Toyo and Distributor Plan Qatar Expansion

Toyo and its exclusive Qatar distributor, AlMuftah Trading, have revealed an ambitious expansion programme, aimed at meeting the requirements of the state’s rapidly growing automotive market. Toyo already has a “good share” of the local tyre market and AlMuftah Trading is expanding its distribution network in Qatar by opening two more sales outlets – at Wakrah and Al Khor – next year to boost business. AlMuftah Trading has been Toyo’s exclusive Qatar distributor since 1968. It has four outlets in Doha now dealing with Toyo tyres.

Addressing a press conference in connection with the first Qatar visit of Toyo Tyres president and chief executive officer Kataoka Yoshio last night, AlMuftah Group managing director Ibrahim A al-Muftah said, “We are proud to be associated with Toyo Tires, which focuses on quality. Their tyres are very well accepted in the market which is evident from the growing customer base”.

He said Qatar’s automotive market was rapidly growing thanks to the economic boom and currently there were over 800,000 vehicles on the roads including cars, trucks, light commercial vehicles, earthmovers and industrial equipment. Consequently, the demand for quality tyres is also increasing. The annual import of tyres in Qatar is now estimated at about $30 million, Ibrahim A al-Muftah pointed out.

Yoshio said the main strength of Toyo Tires was its quality. “The tyres we sell here in Qatar are being manufactured in our Japanese factory under strict quality control. We do not source tyres from other countries as some manufacturers do,” he said. Yoshio thanked AlMuftah Group for its support and said it was the major factor contributing to Toyo Tires’ success in Qatar.

The AlMuftah Group is one of Qatar’s largest private companies with interests in trading, construction and manufacturing, with more than 5,000 employees.