6th Tyre Manufacturing Plant Set To Launch in Cambodia
A US $500 million investment from Chinese company Wanli Tire Co will see Cambodia add a sixth tyre manufacturing plant, with this one located in the SIN Bavet Special Economic Zone in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet town and covers approximately 32 hectares and is expected to create around 1,000 jobs.
According to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), China remained Cambodia’s largest source of foreign direct investment, and in 2024 accounted for almost half of all FDI. Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are a key source of attracting investments as they offer vital incentives, and as many as 28 zones are now in operation across Cambodia. The CDC reported that the total foreign direct investment from China was worth US $34.25 billion last year.
The SIN Bavet Special Economic Zone has attracted 11 projects from investors and there are now tyre manufacturing plants in Cambodia said Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Vice-president, Lim Heng.
The tyre manufacturing plants we have found information on, are:
- Preah Sihanouk - A US $300-million General Tyre Technology (Cambodia) plant, a subsidiary of Chinese tire maker Jiangsu General Science Technology, launched its operations in 2023 in the Sihanoukville SEZ.
- Kratie - The Newbustar (Cambodia) Tire Co Ltd tyre manufacturing plant (values have been reported in a range between US $140-430 million) is expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs. Located in the UBE Snoul Special Economic Zone, the plant was inaugurated in September 2024 and the firm is a subsidiary of Doublestar Group.
- Svay Rieng - Wanli Tire Co and Cart Tire Co Ltd are both said to be in the provincial SEZ.
In the Svay Rieng SEZs, there are a range of sectors operating including; furniture manufacturing, leather processing and dyeing, production of electric decorative lamps, tyre production, and bicycle assembly.
Wanli Tire Co Groundbreaking Ceremony - SIN Bavet Special Economic Zone
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 12 January 2025 for the Wanli Tire Co facility which was attended by Sun Chanthol, the first vice president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin, as well as Svay Rieng Provincial Governor Peng Pursa, Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holding Group chairman Jing Guangjun, and Wanli Tire chairman Cao Xiandong. (Wanli Tire Co. Ltd., is a subsidy of China’s Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group).
This Wanli Tire Co tyre manufacturing plant was first reported in September 2024 and had an estimated value of US $256 million at the time but the groundbreaking ceremony suggested this has nearly doubled.
The Wanli Tire Co plant will focus on rubber tyre casings which it will export to international markets with Cambodian-made tyres primarily exported to the US and Europe. Tyre casing exports accounted for 3.17% of Cambodia's total merchandise exports during the first 11 months of 2024 and the Ministry of Commerce reported that the exports of tyre casings reached a total of US $772.55 million in this period.