European tire demand up and down

ERJ staff report (TB)

Tire Business report

Brussels — Replacement tire demand in Europe continues to be a mixed bag through the first half of 2013, with truck tire shipments up and consumer tire shipments down, according to the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA).

Truck tire shipments rose 4.9 percent in the period to 3.93 million units while consumer tire shipments fell 5.7 percent to 91.2 million units, the ETRMA said. Shipments of farm and motorcycle tires slipped 3.6 and 5.4 percent, respectively.

Market development varies from country to country, the association, said with demand in Southern Europe picking up and outperforming markets in central and northern Europe.

"In southern Europe, the consumer cannot delay any longer changing tires," said Fazilet Cinaralp, ETRMA secretary general. "We seem to have reached the bottom."

The ETRMA said business appears to have started picking up in June, with truck and farm tire shipments outpacing last year. The association said it expects the market this year to be on par with 2012.

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Article from Tire Business