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Tyres and RubberTyresThe major tyre manufacturing concern in KwaZulu-Natal is
situated in Durban, and the bulk of tyres supplied to the
rest of South Africa come from Durban and Port Elizabeth
by road or in containers on rail.
Distribution centres for reception of new tyres and
warehousing of tyre stocks are located in many cities
around the country. All South African tyre companies have international
parentage, and the technology is imported from the overseas
holding companies.
Inputs to the manufacturing process include imported
rubber (Indonesia and Malaysia) and cord (Italy), and
locally produced carbon black and synthetic rubber (Port
Elizabeth).
An estimated 40,000 tons of tyres per annum are
transported to Gauteng from the coast. In addition, about
30,000 tons per annum of retreaded tyres are moved to and
from retreading plants in the province. TransportThe transport of new tyres from the factories to the
distribution depots is performed with maximum size
vehicles, whereas local distribution and the collection
and delivery of retread tyres is performed with a range of
smaller vehicles. A further unknown amount is transported
in containers from the coastal plants to Gauteng by rail.
Approximately 25,000 tons of tyres are exported per year
through the port of Durban to destinations such as
Holland, UK, and Australia.
Distributors and retreaders in Gauteng, provide
services to a wide area outside of the province, with
extensive exports to neighbouring countries such as
Zimbabwe, Zambia, DRC, Malawi and Mozambique, and the
supply of tyres to Limpopo, North West, Free State and
Mpumulanga from Gauteng distribution centres. Rubber ProductsA large producer of synthetic rubber is located at
Newcastle in KZN, with an annual production of about 55,000
tons.
The inputs to the process are about 60,000 tons of
petrochemicals sourced from the Middle East and USA.
The annual output of the plant is distributed all over
South Africa in the form of synthetic rubber used to
manufacture belting, tyres, rubberised rollers,
protective coatings and various moulded products. TransportThe raw materials are received on rail (39,000 tons) and
road (17,000 tons), and the distribution of the finished
product is done with a fleet of interlink road vehicles
and rail transport to major customers.
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