BANGKOK—Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. is planning to boost production capacity for car tires by about 9 percent at a plant in Thailand's Rayong Province, in part to meet growing demand from overseas markets, including for the Falken brand in North America.
Kobe, Japan-based Sumitomo confirmed to Tire Business recent reports in the Thai media of the expansion, which will raise daily capacity at the Amati City plant to 85,000 units by year-end and potentially to 100,000 in few years, depending on demand.
The company did not disclose its budgeted investment for the expansions nor the effect on employment, which stands at about 6,200 prior to the expansion.
SRI opened the plant in Amati City in 2007, saying at that time it would be become its largest factory.
Sumitomo also makes radial farm and motorcycle tires at the Rayong manufacturing complex, capacities it added in 2014.