MEXICO CITY — Mexico has approved the imposition of antidumping duties on passenger and light truck tires produced in China ranging from 7.16% to 32.24%.
The decision follows a petition, filed in November 2022 by Bridgestone de México, Compañía Hulera Tornel, Continental Tire de México and Industrias Michelin, Mexico's Interior Ministry disclosed April 5.
The duties cover pneumatic radial tires with rim diameters 13 to 22 inches and with aspect ratios of 35 to 85, the announcement said.
Among the companies targeted by the duties are Shandong Linglong with a duty rate of 18.28% and Shandong Changfeng Tires with a rate of 7.16%.
A majority of the Chinese tire makers — including ZC Rubber, Firemax, Nexen, Prinx Chengshan, Giti Tire, Qingdao Doublestar and the Chinese subsidiaries of Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. and Kumho Tire Co. Inc. — have been given margins of 21.77%.
Other companies, including Wanli, Zodo, Shandong Hoahua and others, received a 32.24% dumping rate.
The Interior Ministry's report did not include any data as to what share tires from China represent in Mexico.
Confirmation of the import duties coincides with a spate of manufacturing-related investment announcements by global tire makers in recent months, including:
- Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. — planning to build a passenger tire plant in Saltillo, Mexico, rated at 5 million tires a year and valued at $380 million; schedule to start production in early 2027.
- Sailun Group Co. Ltd. — signed a joint-venture agreement with Mexico's TD International Holding S.A.P.I. de C.V. for the construction of a $240 million, 6 million unit/year car tire plant in León, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato
- Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. — also has selected a site near Saltillo for its factory, although the Chinese tire maker has yet to disclose investment or capacity details about the project.
These companies will join Bridgestone Corp., Continental A.G., Goodyear, JK Tyre Co. Ltd. and Pirelli & C. S.p.A. as tire makers with manufacturing in Mexico, which already is the No. 2 source of passenger tires and No. 6 source for light truck tires into the U.S., with shipments of 22.8 million and 1.79 million units, respectively, last year.
The value of tires imported from Mexico was $2.18 billion, up 15.6% over 2022, according to available U.S. Department of Commerce data.
