NEW DELHI, November 23: The country's tyre exports has reported an increase of 24 per cent in volume and 13.6 per cent in value during the first half of the current fiscal compared to the same period last year, according to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has said.

Tyre exports during April-September has been estimated to be 10.42 lakh valued at Rs 368.72 crore against 8.41 lakh tyres worth Rs 324.53 crore last year, the association said.

Shipment of truck and bus tyres, which make up the backbone of the tyre industry, comprised three-fourths of the total exports. A total of 7.83 lakh truck and bus tyres were exported and in comparison to shipments during first half of the previous fiscal, it improved by 19.86 per cent.

Light truck tyres was the next significant sector in the export basket making up 15 per cent of total shipments. Export of this segment rose significantly during the period to 1.55 lakh from a meagre 57,396 during first half of previous fiscal.

Other sectors to witness significant rise in exports were car, scooter and antique tyres. Exports of scooter tyres increased phenomenally to 51,000 during April-September this year from just 4,400 last year. Car tyre exports improved to 13,009 from 6,462 last year and 709 antique tyres were shipped against 169 last year.

Export of jeep, tractor front, motorcycle, implements and other tyres declined sharply but shipments of industrial, off-the-road and tractor rear tyres improved during the period. No jeep tyres were exported in the first half against 440 shipped last year. In fact, jeep tyres exports have been showing a declining trend after touching a high of 9232 in 1993-94.

Only 650 motorcycle tyres were exported in the first half against 15,340 last year, and in the tractor front tyre segment 787 were shipped against 6,879 last year. Tractor rear tyres exports improved to 17,360 from 15,757, industrial tyres shipments increased to 1835 from 1,347 while other tyre exports were nil against 60,552 shipped last year.

As far as countrywise exports are concerned, shipments to Europe increased significantly to 7.79 crore from rs 3.45 crore. Exports to Asian countries worth Rs 142 crore topped the list closely followed united states with shipments worth Rs 118.71 crore.

Meanwhile, total tyre production in the country slid by 1.31 per cent keeping in tune with the general recession faced by the industry in the country. The production declined to 1.48 crore from 1.50 crore last year but the dip is mainly confined to tractor trailor, moped and animal drawn vehicles.

Truck and bus tyre production during April-September increased by 3.29 per cent to 41.12 lakh from 39.81 lakh, while passenger car tyres improved by 5.78 per cent from 18.35 lakh to 19.41 lakh.

Jeep tyre production increased by 23.75 per cent to 6.20 lakh from 5.01 lakh, light commercial vehicles tyre production moved up by 5.94 per cent to 9.28 lakh from 8.76 lakh and tractor front tyres output was up by 6.77 per cent to 5.05 lakh from 4.73 lakh.

Tractor rear tyre production increased by 12.91 per cent from 3.36 lakh to 3.76 lakh , tractor trailor tyre output declined from 1.98 lakh to 1.01 lakh and animal drawn vehicle tyre production slid by 10 per cent to 1.96 lakh from 2.18 lakh last year.

Scooter tyre production decreased to 35.93 lakh from 41.52 lakh, motorcycle tyre production output increased to 23.02 lak from 20.93 lakh and moped tyre production slid to 1.10 lakh from 3.55 lakh.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.