Sumitomo Establishes Middle East Replacement Tyre Business

Sumitomo Rubber Industries is establishing a company to handle the sale of tyres in the Middle East region. The Dubai based company, called Sumitomo Rubber Middle East FZE, will start operations of January 1, 2009, and will focus upon expanding sales of replacement tyres in the region, an area where Sumitomo has identified growth. The key products handled by the new company will be passenger car, light commercial and truck tyres.

The company, 100 per cent owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, will be headed by Masaru Tabata. The operations will employ approximately 15 persons.