Tyre Production Up By 2 % During Apr-Dec

Tyre production increased by a meagre 2 per cent during the first nine months of 1997-98.

Total domestic tyre production rose to 2.30 crore during April-December this fiscal against 2.24 crore in the corresponding period last year, the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) said yesterday.

The low growth in the transport sector was reflected in the poor 1 per cent rise in truck and bus tyres, considered to be the back bone of the industry.

Truck and bus tyre production rose to 60.93 lakh from 60.21 lakh in the first nine months of the fiscal. Passenger car production increased by 9 per cent to 30.56 lakh from 28.12 lakh, while jeep tyre production was up substantially by 21 per cent from 7.84 lakh to nine lakh. Tractor front and rear tyre production also increased by 4 and 6 per cent respectively. Tractor front tyre output rose to 7.47 lakh from 7.06 lakh and rears production was 5.82 lakh against 5.09 lakh last year.

 

Tractor trailor tyre production, however, declined by 46 per cent to 1.51 lakh from 2.78 lakh last year. Motorcycle tyre production increased by 18 per cent to 36.96 lakh from 31.28 lakh but scooter tyre production declined by 5 per cent to 56.85 lakh from 60.05 lakh last year.

Production of industrial tyres witnessed a phenomenal rise of 123 per cent.

Its production increased to 1.05 lakh from 47,000 last year.

Off-the-road tyre production also increased by 33 per cent from 21,000 to 28,000, while production of animal drawn vehicles slid by 15 per cent.

Company-wise, MRF accounted for over one-fourth of the total domestic tyre production during the period producing 60.61 lakh tyres. Of this, truck and bus tyres comprised 11.36 lakh followed by car tyre production of 10.4 lakh.

Ceat produced 37.4 lakh tyres, Modi and Modistone together accounted for nearly 30 lakh tyres produced during the period and J K Industries produced 19.89 lakh.