Domestic tyre production fell by 3.2 per cent in April 2003 as high-volume segments like car, utility vehicle, motorcycle, scooter and tractor tyres recorded a decline in production.

Total production went down to 36 lakh (3.60 million) units from 37.2 lakh (3.72 million) tyres in the same month last year, data released by the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association on Tuesday showed.

Exports also dipped 19.4 per cent year-on-year to 2.08 lakh (0.208 million) units from 2.59 lakh (0.259 million) units, the data showed.

Production of truck and bus tyres went up by nine per cent to 7.77 lakh (0.777 million) units but passenger car tyres suffered a seven per cent drop to 5.88 lakh (0.588 million) tyres.

For utility-vehicle tyres, there was a marginal one per cent dip in production at one lakh units while light trucks recorded a 7 per cent increase at 2.19 lakh (0.219 million) units.

Tractor tyre production fell by 13.8 per cent to 1.83 lakh (0.183 million) units during the review month.

In the two-wheeler segment, production of scooter and motorcycle tyres slipped by six and seven per cent to 6.11 lakh (0.611 million) and 10.54 lakh (1.054 million) tyres, respectively.

Moped tyres, however, posted a 23 per cent rise to 18,508 units during the month.

For Animal-Drawn-Vehicles and Off-The-Road vehicles, production was lower by 37 and 17 per cent at 18,585 and 3,176 units, respectively.

Production of industrial tyres rose by 25 per cent to 26,769 units.