A new tire manufacturing facility in Yanbu is set to create over 2,000 jobs, thanks to a USD 470 million investment. Saudi Arabia’s Black Arrow Tire Co. (Blatco) and Thailand’s Golden Star Rubber Co. have teamed up to build the Middle East’s largest tire plant.
Golden Star Rubber will supply natural rubber to the facility, which is supported by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. The plant will initially produce 4 million tires annually for passenger vehicles, with plans to increase output to 6 million, including truck and bus tires. Half of the production will cater to the domestic market, while the rest will be exported.
The Saudi tire market, which produced 22.6 million units in 2023, is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.26%, reaching 25.5 million units by 2032.
The partnership was formalized at a ceremony with key figures such as Blatco Chairman Abdullah Al-Wahibi and Golden Star Rubber Chairman Amir Zafar. This initiative supports Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting industrial localization and reducing reliance on imports, aiming to position the Kingdom as a leader in tire manufacturing.
