The SA Tyre Manufacturers’ Conference group, made up of the four large domestic tyre producers — Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Sumitomo — has applied to the International Trade Administration Commission to impose additional duties of between 8% and 69% on passenger, taxi, bus and truck vehicle tyres imported from China.
Ozoux says Sumitomo’s original equipment footprint is growing steadily as vehicle manufacturers gain trust in the quality, safety performance and durability of locally manufactured tyres. The company’s most well-known brand is probably Dunlop, and Sumitomo is producing these tyres at its factory in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, which opened doors in 2018 as part of a R2-billion investment by the Japanese-based tyre manufacturer.
De Villiers believes that the increased duties will add a significant cost burden to motorists, taxi and bus operators and trucking and logistics companies. “Even more bizarre is that Goodyear China has opposed Goodyear South Africa’s application. If new duties are imposed against Chinese imports, two things will happen: the first is that those importing tyres will shift imports to other, possibly more expensive markets, such as Europe, increasing the price of tyres.
In its April report, Stats SA noted that transport was one of the drivers of inflation on the back of surging fuel prices. In the last 18 months alone, the cost of fuel has risen sharply from R14.86 a litre in January 2021 to a staggering R26.74 per litre.
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