BKT rolls out first radial ag tires at India plant

BHUJ, India — Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has manufactured the first radial agricultural tires at its 7-year-old plant in Bhuj and in six months expects to increase its annual manufacturing capacity there to 50,000 metric tons.

The new production capacity is part of a $257 million investment package to increase capacity at plants in India, including the large OTR factory in Bhuj and a new factory being built in Waluj.

The investment package includes $108 million to boost output of 51- and 57-inch OTR tires at the factory in Bhuj; $88 million to expand its capacity for carbon black by nearly 75 percent to 200,000 metric tons per year at the Bhuj factory complex; and $60 million for modernization, automation and technology upgrades at the Bhuj and Rahasthan factories.

Commissioning of production of the agricultural tires comes less than ayear after BKT initiated the expansion project at the at the 12-acre Bhuj site, where OTR tire production began in 2015.

Arvind Poddar, BKT chairman and managing director, said ag demand is "on the upswing.

"There is a strong indication that growth in this sector is here to stay, and in keeping with the company vision of growth and quality, the present expansion would meet the expectations from our loyal customers," he said."

Poddar said during the pandemic, BKT "adopted a strategy that helped us satisfy even our most demanding customers and deliver our products as per their requirements. We truly feel that it is time to act and put our best foot forward to meet our commitment to the rising needs of our customers. This expansion is our answer to the universal demand."

The site is located in Gujarat State in northwest India, about 60 miles south of the Pakistan border and 40 miles from the Port of Mundra on the Arabian Sea. BKT said it exports its products to more than 160 countries.