Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • LogIn
  • News
  • Technology Focus
    • Features
    • Technical Papers
    • Analysis: Rubber mixing plants of the future
      Analysis: US probes dumping by ESBR suppliers
      Opinion: Tire labels stuck in a rut
      Analysis: NR pricing takes one step forward, two steps back
    • White paper: Role of tire innerliners in improving 'in-use rolling resistance'
      White paper: Why tire air retention matters now more than ever
      Nippon Soda: Use of 1,2-polybutadiene in CSM rubber applications
      Elastomers for Sustainability Top 10
  • Events
    • ERJ Events
    • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Journey to Automation Awards 2020
      Sustainability: Top 10 E4S projects table
  • Maps & Reports
  • People
  • Directory
  • Digital Edition
  • Brainiac
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
November 26, 2013 12:00 AM

Yokohama Rubber to double Thai output

ERJ Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    ERJ staff report (TP)

    Rayong, Thailand − Yokohama Rubber plans to double production capacity at its plant in Rayong in a bid to make Thailand its export base for Asean, reported The Bangkok Post.

    The company will double production of truck and bus tires to 2,080 tires a day next year.

    The plant makes about 12,200 passenger car tires a year, with plans for 26,000 tires annually in five or six years, said Punnaphop Boriboon, senior manager for distribution at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand).

    Founded in 2004, the 5.9-bn-baht (€135.9m) plant at Amata City Industrial Estate can make 370 types of tires and employs 1,960 workers.

    Apart from Thailand, Yokohama has plants in the Philippines (making 50,000 passenger car tires a day) and Vietnam (for motorcycle tires).

    According to Punnaphop, the Rayong plant uses 10,000 tonnes of natural rubber to make 5m tires a year, with an additional 5,000 tonnes now needed after expansion of truck and bus tire production.

    Exports of passenger car and light truck tires to North America, which accounted for 60 percent of sales in 2012, have dipped this year because of the sluggish economy there.

    The company estimates the share of that market falling to 7 percent this year as sales in Thailand rise to 42 percent, up from just 10 percent last year. Shipments to Europe are projected at 9 percent, with 26 percent bound for other Asean markets and Australia.

    Yokohama says it has a 20 percent share of Thailand's original equipment market and 5 percent of the replacement market. Major customers are Toyota, Nissan and Honda.

    The company recently finished the third phase of its 1-bn-baht (€23m) testing centre in Rayong. Built in 2009 and now spanning 4.1 km of track, the testing centre is Yokohama's second and can handle more than 7,000 tires a year.

    The company also plans to set up a research and development facility in Thailand in 2015, focusing on mechanics, chemistry and polymers.

    Yokohama is thought to be behind Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear and Dunlop for tire output in Thailand.

    The Industrial Economics Office reports Thailand makes 50m tires a year, with exports valued at $3.45bn (€2.54bn) in 2012. Thailand has less than a 4 percent share of global exports.


    This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

    Full story from The Bangkok Post

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    ETRMA: European tire sector needs recovery from “very difficult” 2020
    ETRMA: European tire sector needs recovery from “very difficult” 2020
    Conti manufacturing tires with new HL load index code
    Conti manufacturing tires with new HL load index code
    Audia Elastomers advances new range of “sustainable” TPEs
    Audia Elastomers advances new range of “sustainable” TPEs
    Free Newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Get the latest news impacting the European rubber industry, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Logo
    Contact Us

    @ 2019 European Rubber Journal. All rights reserved.
    Contact Us European Rubber Journal, Crain Communication LTD, Ground Floor 11 Ironmonger Lane, London EC2V 8EY, UK

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
    • Technology Focus
      • Features
      • Technical Papers
    • Events
      • ERJ Events
      • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
      • Industry Events
    • Maps & Reports
    • People
    • Directory
    • Digital Edition
    • Brainiac