European replacement tire market down in first quarter

ERJ staff report (BC)

Brussels – European replacement tire market sales were down across the board in the first quarter of 2013, according to the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) as reported by Tire Business.

The sharpest decreases were in the consumer and motorcycle tire markets, the ETRMA said. Consumer tire sales fell 12 percent from the first quarter of 2012 to 45.6 million units. Motorcycle tire sales dropped 13 percent to 2.7 million units, the association said.

Agricultural tire sales also were significantly lower, down 8 percent to 463 000 units, while truck tire shipments fell only 1 percent to 1.88 million units.

The ETRMA blamed the soft market on European economic conditions and on the harsh 2012-2013 winter, which delayed the switch from winter to summer tires.

The European tire industry, however, expects summer tire sales to be slightly ahead of the same period last year, it said.

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News release