Rubber Journal Asia Country Focus
Tyre sector in Iran by Hooman Tootoonchi, Pars Tire Company, Iran
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Automobile industry of Iran ran’s economy is one of a few economies in the world that remained unscathed during the 20072009 recession, helped mainly by the country’s oil and gas sector. In 2010, oil and gas exports from Iran constituted 60% of government revenue. The country was the fourth largest oil producer in the world in 2011 and its petrochemical segment has a high capacity. The automobile industry trails after the oil industry, with 1,648,505 cars produced in the country, making it the 13th largest maker of cars globally and the leader in the Middle East. In 2009, Iran ranked fifth, with respect to the growth rate of the global car industry, after China, Taiwan, Romania and India, with an average of 200 cars per 1,000 people. Based on the Bureau of Census estimates, Iran has a population of 77 million, with a majority aged between 15-39 years old; and a high literacy rate of the population that is educated up to tertiary level.
iven the growth of the young population in Iran and the very diverse desires for car selection, the automotive industry and its related industries, particularly the tyre sector, have grown. In respect to these conditions, the tyre industry has made investments for enhancing the technical and performance aspects so that it can maintain its position in the competitive global market. Iran entered the automotive industry more than 50 years ago to manufacture different kinds of automobiles, with the first automobile factory established in the country in 1957. Thus, the first tyre factory was set up in the country by BF Goodrich about 50 years ago. As Iran is the second biggest country in the Middle East, with an area of 1,698,340 sq km and also due to the growing young population, the tyre industry should be suitably developed, alongside the car industry. Of course, it should be noted that the establishment of the Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute and Iran Rubber Industries Research Centre, have helped this industry to grow significantly.
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Companies currently producing tyres in Iran Location
Production
Ardabil
Capacity (tonnes/year)
Technology
Establishment
Company
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car tyres; agricultural tyres
28,500
TRI, Russia
1996
Ortavil Tire
Tehran
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car tyres; agricultural tyres
29,000
General Tire & Rubber, US
1963
Tehran
Bicycle/motorcyle tyres and tubes
16,000
IRC, Japan
1968
Iran Yasa & Rubber
Kerman
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car & truck (allsteel) tyres; agricultural tyres
50,000
Continental, Germany & Marangoni, Italy
1993
Barez
Saveh
Bias truck & passenger car tyres
40,000
Pirelli, Italy
1976
Pars Tire
Shiraz
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car tyres; agricultural tyres
40,000
Bridgestone, Japan
1974
Khozestan
Birjand
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car tyres
25,500
Matador, Slovakia
1998
Kavir Tire
Tehran
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car tyres; agricultural tyres
28,000
BF Goodrich, US
1962
Alborz
Yazd
Bias truck & passenger car tyres; radial passenger car tyres; bicycle and motorcycle tyres
20,000
Vredestein, Netherlands & IRC, Japan
1995
Yazd Tire
Iran Tire
9 SEPTEMBER 2013
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