To make rubber last: tire importers from Asia accused of dumping in Russia
Truck tires from Vietnam and Thailand are sold in Russia at dumping prices — 24.17% and 19.59% lower than the average market price. This became known during an investigation conducted by the Department of Internal Market Protection of the Eurasian Economic Commission at the request of leading manufacturers from the CIS. A similar investigation is also underway against tire suppliers from China. As a result, the EAEU may impose anti-dumping duties, which, according to representatives of transport companies, will lead to higher tire prices. How this can affect the market is described in the Izvestia article.
How much cheaper are Chinese tires
The leading manufacturers of automobile tires in the CIS — Belshina (Belarus), Omskshina, Cordiant and Nizhnekamsk Truck Tire Factory — accused importers from Vietnam and Thailand of dumping and filed a complaint with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). In their opinion, unfair supplies from Asian countries at low prices harm the producers of the countries of the Eurasian Community. A similar application has been submitted for Chinese manufacturers. The initiative was supported by Altai Tire Factory and a company from Kazakhstan, Tengri Tyres.
The Department for the Protection of the Internal Market of the EEC (the authorized body of the EAEU) initiated anti-dumping investigations based on these appeals. Tires with landing diameters from 17.5 to 24.5 inches and a load index above 115, used in the vast majority of trucks, as well as buses, trolleybuses, dump trucks, trailers and semi-trailers, have come under the attention of the regulator. Izvestia got acquainted with the materials of the EAEC department.
It says that in the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the weighted average cost of imported goods was lower than that of local producers. Tires from Thailand were retailed 24.17% cheaper than the market (dumping margin), from Vietnam — by 19.59%, from China — by 29.64%.
This could not but harm production in the EAEU countries — tire sales began to fall, production decreased by 14%, and the share of inventories increased by 19%. According to Russian manufacturers, profits from the sale of products from the EAEU in local markets decreased by 78% in 2025, and the profitability of manufacturing decreased by 80%.
Domestic industrialists are also concerned about the fact that new factories are planned to be launched in Vietnam with a production capacity of 1.4 million tires per year, which will significantly increase their export opportunities. This may contribute to an increase in dumped imports and a deterioration in the production and financial performance of manufacturers in the EAEU, according to the industry.
The EEC Department for the Protection of the Internal Market reported that as part of the investigation, information will be collected within 60 days, based on which decisions will be made regarding tire imports from Vietnam and Thailand. The main measure of anti—dumping protection is the introduction of duties. Thus, fees ranging from 14.79% to 35.35% of the customs value, depending on the manufacturer, apply to truck tires from China until the end of June 2026.
Izvestia sent inquiries to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the EEC, as well as the above-mentioned truck tire manufacturers from the CIS countries.
How will anti-dumping protection affect cargo carriers
The widespread use of Asian tires was also facilitated by the transition of transport companies to tractors manufactured in China, which are supplied in most cases with Chinese tires, Eduard Mironov, Director of Procurement of transport services at FM Logistic in Russia, told Izvestia. For many carriers, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, they have become the main choice due to the low purchase price, which makes it possible to optimize costs "here and now".
According to PEC: TECH, the share of Chinese tires in the Russian market is close to 25-35%, and Vietnamese tires — to 5-8%.
In some categories, products from China accounted for more than 70% of imports, and all large and medium-sized carriers are actively using them, said Mikhail Koptev, Commercial Director of Skif-Cargo transport company. According to him, the cost of truck tires is from 5 to 10% of the carrier's expenses.
"The wheels of trucks are changed every two years," Ilya Plisov, a member of the board of the Union of Car Services, told Izvestia. — The cost of such wheels is four to five times more than that of passenger cars, as well as installation and replacement operations. Therefore, the cost of truck tires affects the cost of transportation.
Truck maintenance costs are related to tire wear, added Stanislav Chekmarev, an expert at the Avtogruzex Association. Their service life is influenced by the quality of the roads, driving style, as well as the reliability of the rubber.
According to the results of the first half of the year, the cost of Chinese wheels increased by 3-7%, to 27-28 thousand rubles, and for semi—trailers - up to 30 thousand. They serve about 250 thousand km of mileage for tractors and about 300 thousand km on semi—trailers, the expert specified.
"The introduction of duties will weaken price competition due to increased import prices, which will create conditions under which domestic producers (Kama, Cordiant, etc.) will have the opportunity to increase their selling prices, as competitive pressure from below will disappear," believes Eduard Mironov. — As a result, there is a risk of an increase in the price of the entire range of tires, not just imported ones.
According to Mikhail Koptev, if prices rise by 24% (the approximate amount of duties calculated based on those applicable to China), then operating costs may increase by about 2.5% or more.
"Transport companies are likely to compensate for the increased costs by increasing freight tariffs, which may affect consumers and the economy as a whole," says Ilarion Demchikov, Marketing Director of the Emex spare parts marketplace.
According to Skif-Cargo, in the worst-case scenario, the transportation tariff may increase by 3-7%.
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