China's tire exports highlight brand building

While global economy remained lackluster in the first half of this year, domestic tire makers have been trying hard to tackle the persistently tepid demand, as well as the adverse effects from several antidumping and countervailing cases initiated by a few countries.

Despite of all the difficulties, domestic tire manufacturers generally did a good job in boosting brand marketing, by way of enhancing the low-carbon concept and expanding channels for technology export, said industry observers on the sidelines of the 2012 China Tire Export Working Conference held in Qingdao a few days ago.

One of the “green” tire pioneers is Aeolus Tyre, who has taken the lead in realizing 100% “green production” of radial tires around the world by using environmentally friendly raw materials.

Besides Aeolus, other domestic brands like Triangle, Double Coin, Chaoyang and Linglong, all have had, one after another, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States label their radial tires for truck use as “green tires”.

Thanks to their awareness of environment protection, domestic tire makers secured steady growth in delivering tire products to overseas markets in the past years.

Meanwhile, several domestic tire manufacturers consciously chose to export advanced technologies or directly set up overseas plants for bigger efforts in brand building, Cai Weimin, secretary general of the tire division of China Rubber Industry Association, told Tireworld.

Earlier, in the first half of this year, Henan-based Good Friend Tire Co., Ltd. inked a contract with the relevant departments of theRepublicofUzbekistan, to help the latter in launching an all-steel radial tire project with annual production capacity expected at 10 million units, in the form of technology export.

Besides Uzbekistan, on the recommendation of local dealers, Good Friend Tire also reached initial intent of cooperation with partners from Saudi Arabia and Tanzania.

Another exciting story comes from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd.

Zhongce Rubber has decided to set up a production baseThailand, producing tires for automobile and motorcycle use. The move, if smoothly carried out, will make ZhongceChina’s first ever tire maker to build overseas plant.

The Thai tire plant, involving an investment of one billion yuan and set to cover an area of 840 mu (or 56 hectares), is expected to realize an annual output capacity of one million motorcycle tires, 600,000 all-steel radial tires and three million steel-belted radial tires for truck use.

While forging ahead in brand building around the world, domestic tire makers shall attach great importance to trademark registration as well, Cai emphasized, adding that enterprises should learn to take precautions to protect their interests under the current scenario of ever intensifying market competition.

(Contributed by Olivia, Olivia@tireworld.com.cn)