ETRMA: Second quarter results ‘very promising’ for tire industry recovery

Brussels – European replacement tire markets reported growth over the three months to end of June, continuing a ‘positive evolution’ started in the first quarter of year and 'slowly going back to to 2019 levels'.

All segments registered increases compared to the second quarter of 2020, following “the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) 14 July. 

At 50.2 million units sold, the consumer tires market is driving the growth with a 44% year-on-year increase, although the segment remains 1% below the 2019 levels. 

Sales in the truck tire segment reached 3.2 million units, 42% up compared to 2020 and 9% higher than the second quarter of 2019.

The moto and scooter segment also saw a 41% year-on-year increase to 2.7 million units, registering a 4% growth over the 2019 levels.

Lagging behind but still in the positive territory, the agriculture segment posted a 6% increase in sales to 307,000 units. The market grew 2% compared to the second quarter of 2019. 

“The second quarter positive results in all the segments are very promising for the recovery of the tire industry and for the society,” Fazilet Cinaralp, secretary general of ETRMA. 

“We are relieved and confident to see that, also thanks to the vaccine campaign, the world is restarting to move again”, she added.