Expect double-digit growth in int'l tyre biz despite price hike: CEAT

Tyre maker CEAT Ltd expects double-digit growth in replacement and international business this fiscal despite a high natural rubber price forcing it to hike product rates, according to its MD and CEO Arnab Banerjee.

The company, which has taken price hikes of 2-2.5 per cent in the replacement segment since May, expects another round of increase towards the end of July but is betting on robust demand across categories and turnaround of the rural market to drive growth.

"We would like to think that unless there are some unforeseen headwinds, the growth will be steady and positive. We would like to maintain double-digit growth in the replacement segment and international business," Banerjee told PTI.

As for the company's sales to OEM, he said, "We see growth potential much ahead of 3 per cent in the passenger segment for CEAT on the basis of the model pipeline".

In the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal, the company had posted good topline growth as rural demand has come back while .