China Tire market flat is going on

China is the world's biggest natural rubber consumer. However, it is also a country without natural rubber resources. In 2006, the natural rubber imports accounted for 70 percent of the nation's total consumption. Last year, the percentage grew to 75 percent.

"In the past, we had seen the growth rate at about 18 percent," says the China Rubber Industry Association official.

However, the growth of the export volumes and revenue fell 17.6 percent and 18.6 percent respectively.

"Although tire output and sales growth was relatively strong, profits fell sharply, mainly because the prices of raw materials, especially natural and synthetic rubber, have surged, eating into companies' profits," the China Rubber Industry Association said in a statement on its website.

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