Yokohama Rubber breaks ground on expansion project in Philippines

Pampanga, The Philippines – Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) has broken ground on a PHP3.5 billion (€57 million) expansion programme at its production plant in The Philippines.

The project will increase production capacity at the ‘Clark special economic zone’ by 5.8% to 32,500 tires per day, the country’s department of trade and industry announced 29 July.

Set for production by the second quarter of 2026, the expansion programme will generate 500 new jobs, the statement added.

YRC expects to source all its natural rubber for the facility from The Philippines, according to the trade department.

As previously reported by ERJ, the project will include adding capacity for the existing tire sizes as well as introducing 21- and 22-inch tire sizes at the facility.

Established in April 1996, Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) has been manufacturing Yokohama tires primarily for export to the global market.

The factory currently produces 13-20 inch tires for passenger cars and SUVs, with the majority of its output being shipped to Europe, North America, and the ASEAN region for use as replacement tires.

The factory also supplies tires to some car makers in North America and Asia for use as OE on new cars.

The planned expansion, according to YRC, will enable the group to “rapidly respond” to an expected increase in global tire demand.

It will also strengthen YTPI earnings by expanding its production of “high-value-added, high-inch tire sizes.”