BKT to expand carbon black facility in India

Akron, Ohio – Off-road tire maker Balkrishna Industries Ltd (BKT) has started production at its 60-kilotonne-per-annum (ktpa) carbon black manufacturing unit in Bhuj, India.

“The carbon black plant is up and running and scheduled for a second expansion by February of next year,” said Minoo Mehta, president of the company’s US subsidiary in a Q&A.

BKT announced its plans to build the €20-million carbon facility in August 2017.

At the time, the tire maker said that the facility would stretch over approximately 8 hectares within the BKT production site in Bhuj, in the Indian state of Gujarat.

BKT officially inaugurated the €440-million Bhuj tire plant in late 2016. The unit’s daily production capacity is around 300 tonnes.

“The new tire plant in Bhuj is continuously adding capacity and the growth in production will be primarily in ag radials, OTR radials, industrial and construction tires,” Mehta added.