The market size of China’s tyre mould industry has surpassed 10 billion yuan, with digital transformation emerging as the prevailing trend

Recently, the Tyre Branch of the China Rubber Industry Association released its latest industry research report. The report indicates that in 2024, the market size of China’s tyre mould industry reached 10.26 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.5% and surpassing the 10-billion-yuan mark for the first time. Against the backdrop of the global tyre industry shifting towards China and domestic tyre manufacturers expanding their production capacity, demand in the tyre mould market remains robust, and the industry’s development prospects are promising.
The report highlights three major trends currently shaping the tyre mould industry. Firstly, the pace of digitalisation is accelerating, with digital design and manufacturing technologies such as CAD/CAM-CNC-EDM becoming standard practice across the sector, whilst the adoption rate of high-end equipment—including five-axis machining centres and CNC EDM machines—continues to rise. Secondly, product structures are being optimised, with the proportion of semi-steel radial tyre moulds steadily increasing, and demand for speciality tyre moulds—such as those for engineering and agricultural tyres—growing rapidly. Thirdly, industry concentration is increasing; leading enterprises are continuously expanding their market share by leveraging their advantages in technology, capital and customer resources, whilst small and medium-sized enterprises face pressure to transform and upgrade.
In terms of regional distribution, the three provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu and Guangdong account for over 65% of the country’s total tyre mould output, demonstrating a pronounced industrial cluster effect. Among these, tyre mould enterprises in Jiangsu Province, represented by Changzhou and Wuxi, are at the forefront of the industry in terms of technological innovation and quality management, giving rise to a number of highly competitive enterprises such as Nachuan Mould.
The report also notes that the industry’s development still faces certain challenges. Factors such as fluctuations in raw material prices, a shortage of high-end talent and international trade frictions have had a certain impact on tyre mould enterprises’ cost control and market expansion. It is recommended that enterprises increase investment in research and development to enhance their independent innovation capabilities; promote smart manufacturing to improve production efficiency and product consistency; and strengthen brand building to enhance international competitiveness.
Industry experts indicate that with the rapid development of new energy vehicles and the green and intelligent upgrading of tyres, the tyre mould industry is set to embrace new development opportunities. Companies capable of capitalising on digitalisation trends and meeting the demands of high-end clients will occupy a favourable position in future competition. It is projected that over the next few years, China’s tyre mould industry will maintain a growth rate of 6%–8%, with the market size expected to exceed 13 billion yuan by 2027.