Indian tire exports rise 16% in value

New Delhi – India’s tire exports rose 16% year-on-year in value to INR77 billion (€702 million) in the first quarter of financial year 2026-27, according to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).

In volume terms, however, exports were broadly flat, increasing 1% to 13.28 million units, from 13.20 million units in the April-June quarter of FY2025-26, said a 28 Aug ATMA report.

ATMA said the 16% growth represented “a strong start to the new financial year,” adding that it builds upon the industry's “strong export momentum.”

Significantly, the growth was achieved “amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty, disruptions in important shipping routes and elevated input and logistics costs,” it added.

Farm/agricultural tires accounted for the largest share of exports by value at 42%, worth INR32.02 billion, followed by off-the-road (OTR)/industrial tires at 21%, valued at INR16.16 billion.

Truck and bus radial (TBR) tires accounted for 15% of export value at INR11.6 billion, while passenger car radial (PCR) tires represented 8% at INR5.9 billion.

Truck and bus bias (TBB) tires accounted for 6%, at INR4.9 billion, while motorcycle tires represented 3%, at INR2.6 billion.

In volume terms, motorcycle tires were the largest export category, at 2.19 million units, accounting for 16% of total exports, followed by PCR tires at 1.9 million units, or 15%.

Farm/agricultural tires accounted for 11% of exports by volume, at 1.5 million units, while TBR tires represented 6%, at 779,000 units.

TBR exports fall

According to ATMA figures, India’s TBR tire exports fell 14% year-on-year to 779,000 units in the first quarter, from 902,000 units in the same period of FY2025-26.

The decline followed three consecutive years of growth in annual TBR exports, which reached 3.41 million units in FY2025-26, up from 3.30 million units in FY2024-25.

The US remained the largest destination for Indian TBR tires in the first quarter, with 192,000 units, followed by Germany, the Philippines and Brazil.

PCR exports rise 15%

PCR tire exports increased 15% year-on-year to 1.94 million units, compared with 1.69 million units in the first quarter of FY2025-26.

Germany was the largest destination, accounting for 395,000 units, or 20% of first-quarter PCR exports, followed by the US at 280,000 units, or 14%.

Brazil and Poland ranked third and fourth with 9% and 6% of the exports, at 179,000 and 121,000 units respectively.

Motorcycle exports jump 42%

Motorcycle tire exports recorded the strongest growth among the major categories, increasing 42% year-on-year to 2.19 million units, from 1.54 million units in the first quarter of FY2025-26.

Brazil was the largest importing country for Indian motorcycle tires during the quarter, with 272,000 units.

Kenya, Bangladesh, Colombia and Nepal followed Brazil in the top five destinations for two-wheel tire exports.

The growth, ATMA said, followed three consecutive years of increase.

Farm tire exports decline 17%

Farm/agricultural tire exports declined 17% year-on-year to 1.47 million units, from 1.76 million units in the first quarter of FY2025-26.

The category, however, remained the largest contributor to Indian tire exports by value, accounting for 42% of the total.

The US remained the main market for Indian farm tires, with a 20% share of the exports at 272,000 units, followed by Germany at 153,000 units or 10% of the exports.

Overall, ATMA figures showed that Indian tire exports have increased in value over recent financial years, rising from INR230.7 billion in FY2022-23 to INR250.5 billion in FY2023-24; INR273 billion in FY2024-25; and INR273.12 billion in the previous fiscal year.

In volume terms, exports rose from 47.48 million units in FY2022-23 to 55.89 million in FY2023-24, before reaching 51.65 million in FY2024-25 and 54.45 million in FY2025-26.