China's Doublestar to support tire plant project in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — China's Qingdao Doublestar Group has agreed to work with Pakistani tire distributor MSD Tire & Rubber Co. and Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service Ltd. to build a joint venture tire plant in Pakistan.

The venture will be called Sino-Pak Tire, according to local sources.

The new partners are budgeting $220 million for the plant, which is projected to have a Phase One capacity of 1 million truck/bus and 3 million passenger tires a year by year-end 2021. The partners did not say where the factory will be built.

Doublestar will provide technical support and equipment, the company told ERJ. Tires made at the plant will supply local consumers as well as several regions in South Asia and Central Asia, Doublestar said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the recent joint venture signing ceremony in Islamabad.

Doublestar declined further comments on the project.

Lahore, Pakistan-based MSD Tyre is involved in both wholesale and retail and has plans to start a commercial tire retread plant with technical assistance from Pirelli Tyre.