Indian Tyre Production Increases 29%

The period between April and August this year yielded a 29 per cent increase in domestic tyre production in India on the back of a sharp rise in automobile sales, according to a report published by Business Standard. This rise is made even more impressive when one considers the spiralling natural rubber prices in the same time-frame. The report states that the major tyre manufacturers produced 47.1 million tyres in April-August 2010, as opposed to 36.7 million in the same period of 2009.

The Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association told Business Standard that the scooter segment had seen the sharpest rise of 65 per cent, rising to 7.4 million tyres. Three- and four-wheel passenger car tyre production rose 44 per cent and 43 per cent respectively, with 10 million PC products made against 7.17 million in the same 2009 period. Motorcycle tyres went up 30 per cent to 17 million, from 13 million. In the final segment mentioned, truck and bus tyre production increased only marginally, reaching 6.24 million from 6.1 million.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, commercial vehicle sales rose 41.59 per cent in the slightly longer April-September period of 2010, with car sales up 33.58 per cent and two-wheelers up 25.86 per cent.