Tokyo—The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd, announced today that its domestic tire mold production subsidiary Yokohama Mold Co., Ltd. (YMC) will expand production capacity at Yokohama Mold (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (YMTC), the Group’s mold production subsidiary in Thailand. The capacity expansion is aimed at strengthening the Group’s supply chain in the ASEAN region. Construction of the new facilities began in January 2021, with completion planned for the end of this year.

YMTC was established in 2018 in the Thai province of Rayong. It supplies tire mold used in passenger car tires and light truck tires to Yokohama Rubber’s tire manufacturing plants in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, India and other countries. The expansion at YMTC will supplement the mold supplied from YMC in Japan and a business partner in China, enhancing the Yokohama Rubber Group’s ability to provide a stable supply of tire mold to its plants in the ASEAN region.

Yokohama Rubber has been strengthening its presence in Asia, and its Tire and MB (Multiple Business) operations now have multiple production and sales bases throughout the region, including in China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and India. By continuing to expand production capacity and strengthen its supply chain in the region, Yokohama Rubber will grow its business and contribute to the development of ASEAN countries.

The capacity expansion at YMTC is one of the projects selected by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) for financial support in the third round of its Program for Strengthening Overseas Supply Chains (Facility Introduction Support). The purpose of this program is to strengthen supply chains and promote economic and industrial cooperation between Japan and ASEAN, especially by diversifying production in the Asian region.

YMC was established in Omitama City in Ibaraki Prefecture in 2009 to supply Yokohama Group companies with tire molds used in tires for passenger cars, light trucks, and trucks/buses.