TEHRAN- Iranian tire manufacturers produced 33,868,349 car tires in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2023), indicating one percent rise as compared to the number of tires produced in the same period of time in the previous year.

This number of produced tires weighed over 216,815 tons, with a one percent decline year on year, Mehr News Agency reported citing Industry Ministry data.

According to the mentioned data, in the said period, 15.779 million passenger car tires were produced, showing a three percent decrease year on year.

Production of the tires of agricultural vehicles reached 361,508 with no change compared to the previous year’s same period, and that of road building and industrial vehicles increased 48 percent to 41,501 in the period under review.

In the first nine months of the present year, 5,805,122 bicycle and motorcycle tires were also produced, registering a five percent decline compared to the previous year.

Production of tubes increased by 13 percent to stand at 10,227,898.

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