Exclusive: New $350m tire production plant starts up in Turkey

Hanover, Germany – A new tire manufacturing project is taking shape in central Turkey, involving a multi-phase investment programme valued at $350 million (€300 million).

Operated by Turkish company Mesalas, the facility located in Afyon is expected to produce a broad range of tire types over the next few years, general manager Murat Hepdurluk told ERJ.

Construction major Mesa Holding began work on the project – not far from Ankara – two years ago: the first phase involving an investment of $100 million to build the plant.

According to Hepdurluk, the initial production unit entered full operation at the start of this year and is focused on bias agricultural and industrial tires.

Products include front and rear tractor tires, moving-equipment tires, backhoe loader tires and pneumatic and solid forklift tires.

The initial capacity of the plant is around 30 tonnes per day, with the factory currently operating three production shifts and sales already underway.

Mesalas, continued Hepdurluk, is now preparing to launch the next project phase, with an estimated investment of $130-140 million: expanding both product range and capacity.

Phase II will involve the construction of a new truck and bus radial (TBR) tire facility – set to begin shortly – with construction & installation work planned within 2026.

Following development and testing work, commercial production is expected shortly after installations, Hepdurluk said.

The planned TBR line will have a capacity of around 1,500 tires per day, equivalent to around 80 tonnes per day.

Phase II will also include radial...

Read the full report in the upcoming March/April issue of European Rubber Journal magazine.