Algeria’s first tyre company exhibiting at CITExpo in August

We’ve been following the progress of Algeria’s first homegrown tyre company, and in March reported that the Iris Tyre plant had completed its first test phase. Now the new tyre maker is ready not only to gain a foothold in the domestic market – Iris Tyre intends to export its output to numerous markets. It will present its range at the CITExpo trade fair in Shanghai next month.

Based in Sétif, about 180 miles east of Algiers, Iris Tyre was founded by Algerian consumer electronics and household appliances group Eurl Saterex-Iris. This first tyre factory in Algeria since Michelin Group closed its plant in the capital in 2013 was set up with a total investment of around $250 million to $300 million. Finnish automation specialist Cimcorp Oy supplied its Dream Factory concept and logistics technology to the state-of-the-art, fully automated plant.

“The Algerian market consumes more than 7 million tyres a year and the products currently imported are generally of poor quality. This represents a fantastic opportunity to repeat our manufacturing success in another sector,” said Yacine Guidoum, managing director of Eurl Saterex-Iris. “As well as producing locally-branded tyres to meet Algerian demand, we will be exporting about a third of our output to European and African markets.” The new facility – which is the largest tyre manufacturing plant in Africa – is operational since spring 2018 and production of 1 million passenger car radial (PCR) tyres is planned for the first year, followed by 2 million units of both PCR and truck and bus (TBR) tyres in the second year.”

“We are very honoured to have Iris to pick China International Tire Expo (CITExpo) to demonstrate their new, high-quality products to not only Chinese distributors, but also importers from around 110 countries,” says Sam Lai, international marketing manager of CITExpo organiser, Reliable International Exhibition Services. “It showed that our show is one of the best platforms for up-and-coming new brands to gain quick access and publicity to the worldwide market.”

Visit www.citexpo.com.cn to register for CITExpo or to find out more about the show.