TEHRAN- Iranian tire manufacturers produced 13,478,931 car tires in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-October 22), falling two percent from the output in the same period of time in the previous year.

This number of produced tires weighed over 146,363 tons, with a five percent decline year on year.

According to the statistics, in the mentioned period, 11.931 million passenger car tires were produced, showing a five-percent decrease year on year.

Meanwhile, 802,890 van tires were produced, indicating a 10-percent fall.

Production of the tires of agricultural vehicles experienced a decline of six percent to stand at 270,624, and that of road building and industrial vehicles fell 41 percent to 27,910 in the period under review.

In the first seven months of the present year, 4,447,406 bicycle and motorcycle tires were also produced, with no change compared to the previous year.

Production of tubes increased by nine percent to stand at 7,717,181.

The tire industry has a 60-year history in Iran. Currently, 11 tire manufacturing companies are active across the country that produce tires for passenger cars, trucks, buses, vans, road construction, and agriculture machinery, as well as bicycles and motorcycles in addition to other types of tubes.

Some 15,000 people are directly employed in this industry and more than 250,000 people are indirectly involved in the value chain of this industry.

The Iranian tire industry, despite the continuation of sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic conditions, as well as some domestic restrictions, has been following a thriving and successful path over the past few years.

In addition to the successes achieved in terms of the output amount, Iranian tire manufacturers have entered new areas including production of the wide-base tires and the tires of SUVs.

Wide base tires, which are a new generation of heavy vehicle tires, have been produced for the first time in West Asia by Iranian producers.

EF/MA