Cochin based tread maker Crescent Rubber Crafts has expanded its footprint in Africa by opening up the Rwanda market.
Indian Tread Maker Opens Up Rwanda Market
“We are currently supplying one 20 ft container of 13 tons of PCTR and 5 tons of cushion gum every quarter to Rwanda,” explained Abdu Samad, Director, Crescent Rubber Crafts. “It’s a small market, but a beginning of a sort in that region,” he added.
Crescent has been focusing on export markets recently and says it is also on the verge of closing another supplier deal for neighbouring Sri Lanka. “The Sri Lankan party is in the manufacturing of tread rubber and looking for a supplier of cushion gum from India. We are in touch with the party and hope to close the deal during my next visit,” he claimed.
Crescent Rubber is also expanding its bonding gum capacity by installing a new calendering line of 14×42 inches. Crescent has the capacity to produce 200 tons of tread rubber each month but is currently manufacturing about 80 tons only. It also owns a mixing unit with a 30-ton capacity, supplying to tyre companies and rubber mat producers.
The tread rubber produces and exports under the CRC brand through sister concern Crescent International Tyre Treads.
“We are also in touch with a few clients in Latin America specifically in the markets of Colombia and Ecuador,” added Samad. The company says it is in touch with parties there and expects to finalise deals by the end of 2022.
The objective of the company’s export drive is to utilise the existing capacity, which is about 120 tons per month. “We are also focusing on the markets of neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Nepal as well as our own domestic market in the North Eastern states,” he concluded.
