BKT has announced its new carbon black plant within the Bhuj production site will run at 100% of its capacity by 2021.
At the end of the first quarter of financial year 2019, the plant had a carbon black production output of 60,000 tons – increasing to 80,000 tons in the second quarter – and will reach its full production capacity of 130,000 tons by 2021.
Around 50% of the carbon black produced at the new plant is being used in BKT’s tire manufacturing process, while the other remaining 50% is sold on the market.
BKT is the only company in the Indian tire industry to have its own carbon black production plant, according to the company.
“This plant makes the difference and is definitely going to reward us. This significant $75 million-investment (initially USD $23 million) provides vital raw material within the tire manufacturing supply chain,” said Rajiv Poddar, joint managing director of BKT. “The decision to produce this component in-house is part of our strategy. Not only does the new plant provide us with manufacturing independence, but it also ensures a better quality of our raw materials, since we have now precise upstream control over the entire process.”
BKT has announced the intention to increase its global market share in the off-highway tire segment by raising its current figure of 6% to 10% by 2025.
