Linglong gives Serbian factory progress update amidst third factory plans

Linglong reports that it is “conducting on-site inspection, analysis and comparison of the third overseas base”, according to a statement released to institutional investors. However, behind the headline-grabbing references to a new overseas factory which may well be in “the Americas”, Tyrepress China noticed that the tyre manufacturer revealed multiple details about progress with the Serbian factory. Specifically, Linglong said: “Many customers are looking forward to supplies from Serbia and are pressing for them. The company will speed up the construction progress in Serbia”.

At present, the all-steel radial truck tyre project of Linglong’s Serbian factory has already been put into production, and production capacity is said to be climbing rapidly. In the first half of 2024, the first and second phases of the all-steel radial tyre project are expected to reach total production.

With tyres made from the all-steel radial tyre project of the Serbian factory since the end of May, the tyre maker now plans to shift US orders to the Serbian plant for production if the United States imposes anti-dumping duties on the Thailand factory’s all-steel radial tyres.

Car tyre production next

Regarding the semi-steel radial passenger car tyre project at the Serbian factory, the information disclosed by Linglong suggests the firm will now “strive to obtain a trial license as soon as possible for production and sales”. According to Linglong’s plan, semi-steel radial tyres will first achieve a production capacity of 4 million tyres in the first phase. By the end of 2024, the production capacity of the base’s semi-steel radial tyre project is expected to reach 6 million units. By 2025, the semi-steel radial tyre project of the Serbian factory will get the design production capacity.

At the same time, Linglong plans to put the first phase of the Serbian factory’s specialty (off-highway) tyre project into production in 2025.

Linglong also disclosed the production capacity development of semi-steel radial tyres at all its production bases. According to Linglong, it is now mainly adding semi-steel radial tyre production capacity in China’s Hubei and Dezhou bases. Each has expanded production by 3 million tyres and is currently releasing production capacity. The semi-steel radial tyre project at the Changchun base has been put into production and is now ramping up its production capacity.

In 2024, Linglong plans to expand the semi-steel radial tyre production capacity of the Changchun plant and start production of the Serbian plant. Linglong estimates that the two projects combined will add more than 6 million semi-steel radial tyre production capacity.