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FEATURE
REPORT
SEA countries mentioned here being fast-growth economies, they haven’t yet reached the maturity of Europe or the US, hence a lag in regulation and a dedicated response to sustai- nability. However, this area is where retreading is a leading industry globally and has the bona fide to make a true diffe- rence. Yet, and if you speak to most retreaders in the region, most will attribute this to a lack of understanding on the part of transporters around the green credentials of retreading and issues around the cost of new, ‘single-use’ tyres, impor- ted, mainly from China, but also across the SEA region itself. Malaysia’s Tyre Retreading Manufacturers Association of Ma- laysia (TRMAM) puts the number of cheap single-use tyres be- ing dumped in Malaysia at 1.8 million pieces per year. A lot of global corporations will have a dedicated CSR policy that will likely include the use of retreads in any logistics. In SEA, the economy is driven by SMEs, who are likely to be more cons- cious of price at the point of purchase rather than looking at a measure like CPK that would spread the cost of a tyre invest- ment. So, the industry, regulatory bodies, and governments must do more as it’s unlikely moves will come from business anytime soon.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The SEA retreading industry is diverse and vibrant. Howe- ver, it can also often be its own worst enemy. To foster grow-
th, industry players could seek more supportive regulatory frameworks that acknowledge the environmental benefits of retreading. Financial incentives, such as subsidies or tax breaks for using retreaded tyres, could significantly boost the industry. Collaboration with ASEAN bodies could help set these frameworks and promote retreading as a viable and sustainable industry. The SEA retreading industry needs to take the next steps.