BRV: German HGV tire segment back on track

Bonn, Germany –German sales of tires for heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs) last year stabilised at around 2.7 million units, German tire retail trades association the BRV has reported.

Around 70% of the sales were of new tires and the rest retreads: the BRV adding that market trends indicated a strengthening of predominantly medium-sized retreaders in Germany.

According to the association, the new-found stability marked the success of its efforts to battle against difficult market conditions in the retreading sector.

“In collaboration with members from the retreading sector, it was broadly possible to secure funding for retreaded HGV tyres as part of the De-minimis public funding programme,” stated BRV.

The association said it also played a key role in filing the EU anti-dumping suit filed last autumn against cheaply imported new HGV and bus tires from China.

With effect from 7 May, the European Commission imposed preliminary anti-dumping duties of between €52.85 and €82.17 per unit against new tires for HGVs, trailers and buses imported from China.

The preliminary regulation shall first apply for six months, after which a final regulation shall be determined for 3 years. Sanctions could be back-dated to 3 Feb, when registration of imports of Chinese HGV and bus tires to the EU began.

The measures against Chinese imports "will ensure a considerable relaxation of competition for HGV retreaders in Germany and Europe," the BRV concluded.