KOCHI: Chinese tyre makers dumping products in India is hurting the domestic tyre industry, as the demand for tyre import from China grew to 90% in 2015-16 from mere 40% in 2013-14.
A concerned Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has demanded imposition of Anti Dumping Duty on tyre imports and dumping as it hurts the domestic industry. The petition is pending with the Department of Commerce.
The demand has popped up again at a time when the Truck and Bus Radial Tyre import in India has gone up by 64 per cent in 2015-16 financial year.
“The government needs to take urgent measures to halt such sharp surge in imports and dumping of tyres. Tyre manufacturers in India have made major investments towards greenfield and brownfield projects for manufacturing of state of the art radial tyres. But indiscriminate import and dumping of cheap tyres from China are queering the pitch for domestic manufacturing”, said K M Mammen, Chairman ATMA.
“Increase in mercury levels and abstaining from tapping by farmers have contributed to the price hike of natural rubber. Along with this higher imports and bear trend in the overseas market are hurting the tyre industry,” said Hareesh V, Head of Research, Geofin Comtrade.