Amidst the recent drop in automobile sales, especially that of cars, production and export of tyres increased during the first quarter of the current financial year. Production of all categories of tyres increased 15 per cent and exports were up 30 per cent during the period, compared to the same period last financial year. The overall growth in production and exports was 22 per cent each during FY 2010-11.
Except in the segment of jeep, production increased across all categories of tyres, according to the latest data of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (Atma). A total of 10.6 million tyres were produced as against 9.2 million in Q1 of the last financial year, a growth of 15 per cent.
The highest growth (32 per cent) was recorded in the case of the three-wheeler segment when the production edged up to 680,000 tyres as against 520,000 tyres. The second highest growth was in the two-wheeler/moped segment, where the growth was 26 per cent. The production was 1.1 million as against 890,000 in the same period of the last financial year.
A 20 per cent increase was recorded in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment while this was 12 per cent in the passenger car segment. Around 2.2 million passenger car tyres were produced as against 2 million last year. There had been a drop in sales of car tyres in the original equipment (OE) segment, but this was compensated largely due to the increase in exports and sales in the replacement segment.
Around 560,000 tyres were produced in LCV sector while this was 460,000 in Q1 of the last financial year. About 1.4 million truck/bus tyres were manufactured against 1.2 million, registering a growth of nine per cent. Jeep tyre production declined five per cent at 110,000 as against 120,000 tyres last year.
EXPORTS
Car tyre exports increased 60 per cent in April-June. A total of 120,000 tyres were shipped in this segment as against 73,602 tyres in the same period last year. The highest increase of 323 per cent was recorded in the two-wheeler/moped segment with 6,015 tyres were exported. This was just 1,422 in Q1 of the last financial year. Also in the off-the-road segment, 21,921 tyres were shipped overseas as against 11,421, registering a growth of 92 per cent. Tractor front tyre exports registered an increase of 279 per cent at 1,366 tyres. A total of 180,000 truck/bus tyres were also exported as against 140,000 registering a growth of 22 per cent. In motor cycle segment, exports were 750,000 and in three-wheeler segment exports were 52,674. Export of tractor trailer tyres and jeep tyres declined 100 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively.