The second staging of Tyrexpo India in Chennai next year will see the event tackle the topical issue of the increased radialization of truck and bus tires in India, event organizer ECI International said.
“Indian and international tire manufacturers are making huge investments in new production capacity for TBR radials for the domestic market,” says Paul Farrant, managing director of ECI International. “We want to reflect that dynamic trend at Tyrexpo India by creating a focus on truck tire manufacturing, with tiremakers, technology experts, materials suppliers and service providers making a contribution to the show.”
Due to a variety of factors, including poor roads and infrastructure, heavily overloaded commercial vehicles and a lack of OE demand, TBR radials account for 10%-15 % of the country’s commercial vehicle market. However, this is ready to change with government plans to build 35,000 km of new roads over the next two years, the 2005 Supreme Court ruling on the overloading of trucks and increased interest from CV and bus manufacturers in the market.
Between them, Indian tiremakers Apollo, BKT, Bridgestone India, Ceat, Dunlop India, Falcon Tyres and JK Tyre are in the process of commissioning or building more than a dozen new tire factories, with many of them dedicated to producing truck and bus radials. Industry estimates predict that by 2013 there will be an additional 25% manufacturing capacity for TBR radial tires.
External manufacturers are investing in the change, too. Michelin is to invest $800 million in its new Chennai plant, which will have a capacity of 300,000 radial tires, and Continental is said to be spending 50 million Euros to increase its truck radial capacity in India by 2013. Industry sources estimate the Indian tire industry’s annual turnover at 300,000 million rupees, with exports accounting for 36,000 rupees of this. During the year to the end of September 2011, an estimated 119.2 million tires were produced in India by 39 tire companies; the ten largest manufacturers produced 95% of the total. Truck and bus tires accounted for 65% of tire industry turnover, with the replacement market making up around 70% of this.
Farrant adds: “With the continued rapid expansion of the Indian tire industry there will be greater interest in and demand for associated services for tire distribution, fitment and repair. Another of our aims for next year’s exhibition will be to reflect this trend by attracting suppliers of workshop equipment, repair and maintenance products and distribution experts to participate in the show.
“With no other event dedicated solely to the tire and service industries, we are confident that Tyrexpo India 2013 will consolidate the strong impression it made in 2011 with an even stronger show next year.” In anticipation of a larger show ECI has taken an option for a second exhibition hall at the Chennai Trade Centre to cope with additional exhibitor demand from both Indian and international suppliers. The show will take place on July 9-11, 2013. (Tyres & Accessories)
