Michelin No. 1 in N. America rubber goods sales

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Akron, Ohio -- Michelin North America Inc. ranked No. 1, Goodyear was second and Bridgestone Americas Inc. came in third in the annual Rubber & Plastics News ranking of North America's rubber product makers.

Of the 50 private and publicly held companies ranked, based on 2009 sales, 39 showed declines in rubber product sales for the year in North America, many by staggering percentages.

Michelin took the No. 1 spot in North America for the first time in RPN's annual ranking, with sales on the continent of $7 billion. It moved up two slots to lead the pack, largely because its sales dropped less than the other top players.

Michelin's sales fell 3.2 percent in North America when calculated in euros-the currency of its French parent company-while the decline was roughly 8 percent in U.S. dollars after the difference in currency exchange rates is taken into account.

Following close behind in the No. 2 position was Goodyear, with 2009 North American sales of $6.98 billion. Last year Goodyear tied for the top spot with Bridgestone Americas Inc. with $8 billion in 2008 sales. Bridgestone's sales for the region dropped 25 percent to $6 billion in 2009, according to information provided by the company, leaving it in the No. 3 position.

The remainder of the Top 10 were Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. at No. 4, followed by Continental A.G., Tomkins P.L.C., Parker Hannifin Corp., Carlisle Companies Inc., New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., and Yokohama Tire Corp.

The entire ranking list and other data appear in the July 12 print issue of RPN.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)