HANGZHOU, China — Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. (ZC Rubber) increased output of radial tires 20 percent in the first half of 2017 to 25 million units, company executives said at the firm's mid-year distributor meeting in Hangzhou.
The increase includes a 24-percent jump in truck and bus tire production to 8.4 million units, according to a statement on the company's website.
Sales of heavy-duty tire during the period jumped 176 percent to 1.4 million units, showing great potential for the company's commercial vehicle original equipment business, said the sales arm's general manager Chen Shi. Replacement sales volume rose by 14 percent.
ZC Chairman Shen Jinrong said such growth rates are higher than the industry average in China, against market headwinds such as drastic fluctuation in raw material prices and the country's changing demand.