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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) -- Gov. Nikki Haley says that the market demand for tires is amazing, based on recent major tire manufacturing investments in South Carolina.

The governor gave the keynote address Thursday to the annual Tire Industry Conference on Hilton Head Island.

There have been a number of recent tire manufacturing announcements in the state. Michelin is spending $770 million for operations in Anderson and Lexington counties. Continental Tire broke ground last month on a $500 million plant in Sumter County. Bridgestone announced last year it would spend more than $1 billion to expand its Aiken County operations.

Haley attributed the growth, in part, to her anti-union stance and to the state's infrastructure, including the Port of Charleston.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)