Thailand now becomes world top 5th tyre exporter

BANGKOK, August 19 (TNA) - The Ministry of Industry reports that Thailand now becomes the world's 5th largest tyre exporter, shipping about 150 million units of both automobile and motorcycle tyres to serve the global market. Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang told journalists of the update on Friday, saying that Thailand has been ranked the world's top 5th tyre exporter this year, from the global 6th position last year. Atchaka projected that Thailand's tyre export growth should stand at 5 per cent year-on-year on average throughout 2016. According to the minister, her projection is based on official statistics showing that Thailand's exports of automobile and motorcycle tyres had already grown by 5 per cent year-on-year during the first half of this year, while the world economy has been recovering from a slowdown. The minister noted that use of tyres of all types of vehicles in Thailand now stands at about 700,000 tonnes annually. (TNA)