December 18, 2024
PT Matahari Tire Indonesia, a
subsidiary of China's Zhongce Rubber Group Co Ltd (ZC Rubber) officially
commenced operations of its new plant in Kendal Special Economic Zone, Central
Java. The inauguration of this plant is an important step in ZC Rubber's global
expansion in the international tire market.
Zhongce Rubber itself is the
largest manufacturing company in China and is included in the list of the 500
largest manufacturing companies in China. For ten consecutive years, the
company has been among the top 10 global tire manufacturers and is the only
Chinese tire company on the list. It currently has 10 production bases in
China, as well as three international production bases in Thailand, Mexico, and
including Indonesia.
The plant, located in Kendal
Industrial Estate, is part of a strategic investment with a total investment of
USD 400 million. The planned production capacity is 5 million sets of truck and
bus tires, 200,000 sets of bias tires, 3.5 million sets of motorcycle tires
with a total production capacity of approximately 26,455 tons per year. In
addition, a carbon black production facility with a capacity of 85,000 tons per
year will also be built.
Along with the company's
vision to enhance global competitiveness, PT Matahari Tire Indonesia will
produce a variety of leading tire brands that have been widely recognized in
China and international markets. Some of these include well-known brands such as
Westlake, ZC Rubber, Chaoyang, Tianli and others that will be produced locally
and exported to countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Shen Jinrong, President &
Chairman of ZC Rubber Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the plant. “The
location of the new plant has several trade advantages, as well as easy access
to natural rubber resources. MTI will certainly strengthen our commitment to
provide high quality tires, increase productivity, and play an important role
in expanding our brand network in the global market.”
PT Matahari Tire Indonesia is
also committed to continue contributing to regional social and economic
development, especially in Kendal district and Central Java. The factory will
absorb 2500 workers, which is believed to open employment opportunities and
contribute to improving the quality of the local workforce.
Juliani Kusumaningrum as
Executive Director of KEK Kendal also attended the inauguration ceremony to
welcome the enthusiasm for the operation of this MTI factory. “Of course, MTI's
presence in this area is an important complement to the automotive industry,
especially in Central Java. With this new factory, we hope to create a
multiplier effect that not only increases industrial competitiveness, but also
opens more jobs and has a broad positive impact on the regional and national
economy.”