Leading the way has been major Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo and the Singapore-based duo of Stamford Tyres and Omni United, who acted fast to secure prominent stands in the entrance area of the exhibition hall.

Among other well known companies confirming their return for the seventh staging of the show are Canada’s Hercules Tyres, Indian retreader Elgitread, China’s Shandong Linglong Rubber, Rhino Tyres and Techking and Singaporean companies Mindtrac and retreading equipment specialist Newera Equipment. Tyres & Accessories has also confirmed its presence in Singapore next March.

“There has already been an excellent response to next year’s show in the few weeks since it has been open for bookings, so we’re delighted that the signs are extremely positive,” commented ECI International sales director Rowena Suthers.

Next year’s exhibition will be looking to build on the gains made by last September’s show, which saw increases in visitor numbers, exhibitors and stand space. This time around ECI opted to hold the event six months earlier in the year to avoid what it calls the region’s ‘increasingly congested exhibition calendar’ during September, a move that has been supported by the many exhibitors who have already confirmed their attendance.

Further positive news for the event is the decision by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to recognise Tyrexpo Asia 2009 as an Approved International Fair, a move viewed official recognition of the event’s growing status. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)