Deng Yali, chair of China Rubber Industry Association, disclosed on Mar. 15 the latest prediction for the tire output for this year at China Rubber Conference 2017.
According to the industrial insiders, China’s tire output is expected to reach 635 million in 2017, up 4.1% year on year.
Included are 591 million radial tires, up 4.6% (including 125 million all-steel tires, up 3.3%, and 466 million semi-steel tires, up 5%), and 44 million bias tires, down 2.2%, with the radial tires accounting for 93% of all tire output.
Deng said that with respect to macroeconomic development, industrial production, trend of price, and structural changes, the rubber industry still faces severe challenges this year, but will turn better.
She also disclosed that China’s rubber consumption in 2017 is estimated to exceed 9.6 million tons, up about 4% year on year.
Deng believed that green and low carbon, smart manufacturing, international capacity cooperation, and merger and acquisition will be the four major development tendencies of the rubber and tire industry this year.