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Engineering goods

Export tyres

Truck, off-highway, car and two-wheeler tyres; the USA, Germany, Italy and Brazil lead.

Free to exportHS 4011
HS code
4011
New pneumatic tyres of rubber: car, bus and truck, two-wheeler, bicycle, agricultural and industrial tyres (HS 4011).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Confirm the exact 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before shipping.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 3.09 bn
to 171 countries

What is exported

Indian tyre makers in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Haryana export truck and bus radials, off-highway tyres, car and two-wheeler tyres. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 3.1 billion under HS 4011; the USA led, followed by Germany, Italy, Brazil, France and the UAE (Commerce Department data).

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Truck and bus radial tyresLarge export line to the USA, Europe and the Gulf.
  • Passenger car radial tyresSold to replacement markets; needs strict labelling and approvals.
  • Off-highway tyresAgricultural, construction, mining and industrial tyres (4011 70, 4011 80) — a strong Indian niche.
  • Two-wheeler tyresMotorcycle and scooter tyres for Asia, Africa and Latin America.
  • Bicycle tyres and tubesMostly from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratVadodara, Bharuch, Halol and Mehsana
  • Tamil NaduChennai (Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, Gummidipoondi)
  • Kerala and KarnatakaKottayam, Kalamassery and Mysuru
  • Maharashtra and Andhra PradeshNashik, Ranjangaon and Atchutapuram
  • Haryana and PunjabBallabhgarh, Jalandhar and Ludhiana (bicycle tyres)

Export packing

  • Tyres ship loose and hand-stacked ("laced" or "rick-racked") in 40-ft high-cube containers to fill every gap.
  • Each tyre carries its sidewall markings and an EU or market label sticker on the tread.
  • Large off-the-road tyres go on flat racks or skids, strapped.

Who buys abroad

  • Tyre distributors and replacement-market wholesalers
  • Vehicle and farm-machine makers (original equipment)
  • Fleet operators and mining companies

The quality buyers ask for

Size and load
Size, load index and speed rating per ETRTO or the US Tire and Rim Association
EU approval
UNECE R30 (car), R54 (truck), R75 (two-wheeler) and R117 (rolling noise, wet grip, rolling resistance)
EU label
Fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise classes on the tyre label and in the EPREL database (Regulation (EU) 2020/740)
USA
FMVSS 139 (light vehicles) or 119 (trucks), DOT code with plant code, and UTQG grading for passenger tyres
Chemicals
EU REACH limits PAHs in extender oils used in tyres

Certificates

  • ECE / E-mark approvalRequiredNeeded for tyres sold in the EU, UK and other UNECE markets.
  • DOT certification and NHTSA plant codeRequiredThe maker must have a plant code from NHTSA and certify compliance with FMVSS for US sales.
  • GSO / Gulf conformityOften askedGulf markets require tyre conformity under GSO standards.
  • IATF 16949 / ISO 9001Often askedRequired by vehicle-maker customers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Loose, hand-laced in 40-ft high-cube containers; a container typically takes about 1,000–1,400 car tyres or about 150–250 truck tyres depending on size (trade practice).

How it travels

Sea from Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva, Chennai and Kochi.

Storage

Cool, dry and away from sunlight and ozone sources; rubber ages with heat and light.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Sidewall: brand, size, load index and speed symbol, E-mark and approval number, DOT code with week and year of manufacture.
  • EU tyre label sticker (with QR code linking to EPREL) on car, van and truck tyres.
  • Country of origin ('Made in India') on the product or its packing, as the buyer's customs require.
Where to get it tested

ARAI (Pune) and ICAT (Manesar) test tyres for Indian and UNECE standards. For DOT and EU approvals, the testing is often done through foreign technical services or labs they accept; ask the buyer or approval authority. Search the NABL directory for 'tyre' for rubber testing labs.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CAPEXILRCMC — DGFT Appendix 2T lists automobile tyres and tubes under CAPEXIL.capexil.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU and UK: UNECE approval (R30, R54, R75, R117), E-mark on the sidewall and the EU tyre label registered in EPREL.
  • USA: FMVSS compliance, an NHTSA plant code and the DOT code on the sidewall.
  • Check trade remedies (anti-dumping or countervailing duties) on tyres in your market.
How to start small

As a trader, start with two-wheeler, bicycle or agricultural tyres for distributors in South Asia, Africa or the Gulf, buying from makers who already hold the destination approvals. Join CAPEXIL.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Tyres without the destination approval marks are refused at customs.
  • Old production dates — distributors reject aged stock.
  • Poor container loading that wastes space and raises cost per tyre.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 4011 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. European Commission — EU tyre labelling (Regulation (EU) 2020/740)
  5. NHTSA — Tires: manufacturer identification and DOT code requirements
  6. CAPEXIL — official site (covers automobile tyres and tubes)

Trade data

Indian tyres exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 3.09 bn
+10.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +4.3%
US$ 2.96 bn → US$ 3.09 bn
Buyer countries
171
Average export price
US$ 56.75
per kg · 54,449 tonnes shipped · US$ 57.35 the year before
United States of America: US$ 462 mnGermany: US$ 220 mnItaly: US$ 148 mnBrazil: US$ 144 mnFrance: US$ 112 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 111 mnPhilippines: US$ 109 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 99.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 90.4 mnBangladesh: US$ 90.2 mnCanada: US$ 77.5 mnNepal: US$ 73.2 mnPoland: US$ 63.9 mnSpain: US$ 59.1 mnAustralia: US$ 55.7 mnSouth Africa: US$ 54.9 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 53.1 mnMexico: US$ 48.7 mnRussia: US$ 43.4 mnIreland: US$ 42.6 mnEgypt: US$ 42.5 mnBelgium: US$ 40.2 mnPortugal: US$ 35.6 mnJapan: US$ 29.3 mnColombia: US$ 27.1 mnUnited States of America: US$ 462 mnUnited States of AmericaGermany: US$ 220 mnGermanyItaly: US$ 148 mnItalyBrazil: US$ 144 mnBrazilFrance: US$ 112 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 111 mnUnited Arab EmiratesPhilippines: US$ 109 mnPhilippinesUnited Kingdom: US$ 99.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 90.4 mnBangladesh: US$ 90.2 mnCanada: US$ 77.5 mnNepal: US$ 73.2 mnPoland: US$ 63.9 mnSpain: US$ 59.1 mnAustralia: US$ 55.7 mnSouth Africa: US$ 54.9 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 53.1 mnMexico: US$ 48.7 mnRussia: US$ 43.4 mnIreland: US$ 42.6 mnEgypt: US$ 42.5 mnBelgium: US$ 40.2 mnPortugal: US$ 35.6 mnJapan: US$ 29.3 mnColombia: US$ 27.1 mnIndia
Where Indian tyres goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.91 bn1.9k2020-212021-22: US$ 2.84 bn2.8k2021-222022-23: US$ 2.88 bn2.9k2022-232023-24: US$ 2.79 bn2.8k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.96 bn3.0k2024-252025-26: US$ 3.09 bn3.1k2025-26
India’s tyres exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2021-22 — a 19% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 52.39 per kg2021-22: US$ 50.83 per kg50.832022-23: US$ 60.74 per kg60.742024-25: US$ 57.35 per kg2025-26: US$ 56.75 per kg56.752020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian tyres · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 1.91 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 2.84 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 2.88 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 2.79 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 2.96 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 3.09 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 3.48 bn (US$ 2.92 bn – US$ 4.15 bn)3.5k2026-272027-28: US$ 3.74 bn (US$ 3.08 bn – US$ 4.55 bn)3.7k2027-28
India’s tyres exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 3.74 bn

Likely range US$ 3.08 bn to US$ 4.55 bn.

Trend
+7.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.58
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 462 mn-9.7%
2GermanyUS$ 220 mn+30.9%
3ItalyUS$ 148 mn+33.7%
4BrazilUS$ 144 mn+6.9%
5FranceUS$ 112 mn-3.6%
6United Arab EmiratesUS$ 111 mn-9.8%
7PhilippinesUS$ 109 mn+4.7%
8United KingdomUS$ 99.3 mn+14.5%
9NetherlandsUS$ 90.4 mn+16.1%
10BangladeshUS$ 90.2 mn+5.7%
11CanadaUS$ 77.5 mn+10.7%
12NepalUS$ 73.2 mn+3.8%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. ItalyUS$ 111 mn → US$ 148 mn+33.7%
  2. BelgiumUS$ 30.3 mn → US$ 40.2 mn+33%
  3. GermanyUS$ 168 mn → US$ 220 mn+30.9%
  4. IrelandUS$ 33.2 mn → US$ 42.6 mn+28.3%
  5. SpainUS$ 46.8 mn → US$ 59.1 mn+26.4%
  6. PortugalUS$ 29.7 mn → US$ 35.6 mn+19.7%
  7. MexicoUS$ 41.2 mn → US$ 48.7 mn+18.2%
  8. NetherlandsUS$ 77.9 mn → US$ 90.4 mn+16.1%

Low demand

  1. SloveniaUS$ 46.5 mn → US$ 25.8 mn-44.4%
  2. IndonesiaUS$ 31.9 mn → US$ 26.6 mn-16.6%
  3. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 63.5 mn → US$ 53.1 mn-16.3%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Of a kind used on agricultural or forestry vehicles and machines4011 70 00 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on agricultural or forestry vehicles and machinesUS$ 1.23 bn+5.7%6.0 mn piecesUS$ 205.17 per piecewas US$ 202.12
Of a kind used on construction, mining or industrial handling vehicles and machines4011 80 00 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on construction, mining or industrial handling vehicles and…US$ 647 mn+4.2%3.1 mn piecesUS$ 208.10 per piecewas US$ 203.64
Radials tyres used on buses/lorries4011 20 10 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesUS$ 510 mn-1.5%3.4 mn piecesUS$ 149.62 per piecewas US$ 156.89
Radials tyres used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)4011 10 10 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor carsUS$ 242 mn+8.1%7.4 mn piecesUS$ 32.66 per piecewas US$ 31.00
Other tyres used on buses/lorries4011 20 90 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesUS$ 203 mn-4.5%2.6 mn piecesUS$ 78.43 per piecewas US$ 82.50
Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motorcycles — tyres for motorcycles4011 40 10US$ 98.8 mn+10.8%7.8 mn piecesUS$ 12.74 per piecewas US$ 12.57
Other tyres used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars).4011 10 90 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor carsUS$ 54 mn+49.8%2.2 mn piecesUS$ 24.63 per piecewas US$ 27.19
Others-of-new pnmtc tyres of a knd used on bicycls4011 50 90 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on bicyclesUS$ 36.7 mn+4.3%16.2 mn piecesUS$ 2.27 per piecewas US$ 2.17
Tyres uses other than motorcycles/ scooters4011 40 90 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motorcyclesUS$ 26.3 mn+31.5%2.8 mn piecesUS$ 9.36 per piecewas US$ 9.48
Others-of-others-of-new pneumatic tyres, of rubber4011 90 00 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on light commercial vehiclesUS$ 25.9 mn+0.1%969k piecesUS$ 26.71 per piecewas US$ 26.20
Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motorcycles — tyres for motor scooters4011 40 20US$ 15 mn-4.7%1.5 mn piecesUS$ 10.03 per piecewas US$ 10.11
New pnmtc tyres of a kind used on aircraft4011 30 00 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on aircraftUS$ 1.2 mn+19.2%6k piecesUS$ 196.17 per piecewas US$ 829.35
Multicellulr polyurethane(mcp) tubes tyre used on bicycles4011 50 10 · Rubber, new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on bicyclesUS$ 950k0%543k piecesUS$ 1.75 per piecewas US$ 2.09

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 94.8 bn
2023
India among exporters
#10
of 154 countries
India’s share of world exports
2.7%
US$ 2.66 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 96.1 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 21.4 bn 21.6%
  2. 2ThailandUS$ 7 bn 7.1%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 6.35 bn 6.4%
  4. 4JapanUS$ 5.54 bn 5.6%
  5. 5USAUS$ 5.21 bn 5.3%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 3.6 bn 3.6%
  7. 7Rep. of KoreaUS$ 3.25 bn 3.3%
  8. 8PolandUS$ 2.97 bn 3%
  9. 9FranceUS$ 2.78 bn 2.8%
  10. 10IndiaUS$ 2.66 bn 2.7%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 19.5 bn 20.6%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 7.9 bn 8.3%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 4.86 bn 5.1%
  4. 4MexicoUS$ 4.29 bn 4.5%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 3.44 bn 3.6%
  6. 6United KingdomUS$ 3.17 bn 3.3%
  7. 7ItalyUS$ 3.13 bn 3.3%
  8. 8NetherlandsUS$ 3.07 bn 3.2%
  9. 9AustraliaUS$ 2.6 bn 2.7%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 2.25 bn 2.4%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 20 bnIndia 2.8% · gap US$ 19.4 bn
GermanyUS$ 8.16 bnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 7.98 bn
FranceUS$ 4.94 bnIndia 2.7% · gap US$ 4.81 bn
CanadaUS$ 3.6 bnIndia 2.1% · gap US$ 3.52 bn
United KingdomUS$ 3.17 bnIndia 2.9% · gap US$ 3.08 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 3.14 bnIndia 2.5% · gap US$ 3.06 bn
ItalyUS$ 3.1 bnIndia 4.1% · gap US$ 2.97 bn
AustraliaUS$ 2.6 bnIndia 2.1% · gap US$ 2.54 bn
SpainUS$ 2.32 bnIndia 2.1% · gap US$ 2.27 bn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.6 bnIndia 4.4% · gap US$ 1.53 bn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export tyres

India is a large tyre producer with strong export growth, especially in truck and bus radials and off-highway tyres for farm, construction and mining machines, where Indian makers are among the world leaders. China, Thailand and Vietnam are the main competitors in car and truck tyres. In 2025-26 the USA, Germany, Italy, Brazil and France were the largest buyers (Commerce Department data). Buyers need market approvals (DOT in the USA, ECE and EU labels in Europe). Openings are in off-highway tyres, truck and bus radials for markets that have trade remedies on Chinese tyres, and two-wheeler tyres for Asia and Africa.

  1. 01Pick the tyre segment

    Off-highway, two-wheeler and bicycle tyres are easier entry points than car tyres.

  2. 02Register with CAPEXIL

    Automobile tyres and tubes are under CAPEXIL (DGFT Appendix 2T).

  3. 03Get market approvals

    E-mark, DOT plant code, EU label registration in EPREL and Gulf conformity as needed.

  4. 04Check trade remedies

    The USA and others have anti-dumping or countervailing duties on some tyres; check whether your product and company are covered.

  5. 05Load and ship

    Hand-lace tyres to fill the container; record sizes and DOT codes on the packing list.

  6. 06Ship and claim benefits

    File the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the correct 8-digit HS code, declare RoDTEP and drawback, and keep the mill or test certificates with the export file.

  7. 07Get paid safely

    Use an LC or documents against payment with new buyers, take ECGC cover for open-account sales, and close the export with an e-BRC once the money arrives.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting tyres

Which council covers tyres?
CAPEXIL, which DGFT Appendix 2T lists for automobile tyres and tubes.
What is the DOT code?
A code on the sidewall that shows the plant, size and the week and year of manufacture. It is mandatory for tyres sold in the USA.
What incentives apply?
RoDTEP of 1.3% on all HS 4011 lines and drawback of 3.6% (capped per kg) for automobile tyres.
Can I export retreaded tyres?
They are under HS 4012 and many countries restrict used or retreaded tyre imports. Check the buyer country first.
Why do buyers check the production date?
Tyres age; many distributors refuse stock older than a set number of months, so ship fresh production.
Sources (9)
  1. CAPEXIL — official site (covers automobile tyres and tubes)
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. European Commission — EU tyre labelling (Regulation (EU) 2020/740)
  4. NHTSA — Tires: manufacturer identification and DOT code requirements
  5. UNECE — World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)
  6. ECHA — substances restricted under REACH (Annex XVII)
  7. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27
  8. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback
  9. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 4011 by country, 2025-26

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