Higher Tariffs for Imported Tires Proposed

In order to “protect domestic production”, the Industries Ministry has proposed a new guideline on tire imports including higher tariffs.

If approved by the government, tariffs on imported tires will be raised from 32% to 40%, local automotive website Asbe Bokhar reported.

As for tires for heavy duty vehicles, the rise will only be applied on goods with high domestic production rates.

Several Iranian companies including Kavir Tire and Yazd Tire produce tires for trucks and cars in large volumes.

However, the production rate of some models are relatively low and do not meet the local demand.

Earlier in June, spokesperson of Iran’s Tire Producers Association, Mostafa Tanha, called on the government to increase import tariffs on tires.

“Local businesses can meet the demand. However, due to the relatively low import tariffs, substandard and cheap Chinese tires now have a big share of the market,” he complained.  Chinese companies have more than 80% of the share of imported tires.