Hankook earnings drop 42% in Q2, sales up

Seoul, South Korea — Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. suffered a 42.2% drop in operating income for the quarter ended 30 June on 2.1% higher revenue, driven by increased sales of higher rim-diameter tires.

Hankook said the global automotive industry slowdown "negatively affected" its financial results for the period.

Operating income fell to €81.8 million on sales of €1.33 billion, resulting in an operating ratio of 6.1%, down nearly five points from the 2018 second quarter result.

Seoul-based Hankook cited a 2.8% increase in the sale of 18-inch and greater rim-diameter tires for buoying global revenue. Such products now account for nearly 55% of Hankook's passenger tire business, the company said.

From a strategy standpoint, Hankook said it's focusing on strengthening the company's position as a premium brand, a business decision that includes diversifying its OE portfolio and optimising distribution strategies for each region.

For the half year ended June 30, Hankook's operating profit was down 8.3% to €187 million on 2.1% higher sales of €2.5 billion.