Japanese tyre industry recovered in 2010

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo - Japan's tyre industry recovered strongly in 2010, compared with 2009, according to new data from the Japanese Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (JATMA).

The latest edition of the JATMA Tyre Industry report (Tyre Industry 2011) shows that car tyre production in Japan consumed 1.167 million tonnes of rubber in 2010, compared with 973 ktonnes in 2009. The peak was reached in 2007, when 1.358 million tonnes of rubber were consumed.

In the non-tyre segment, Japan consumed 270 ktonnes of rubber in 2010, or 18.8 percent of Japan's total rubber consumption. /p>

Remarkably, the two segments generated almost exactly the same production value. The tyre segment was worth yen 1129 billion (euro 10 237 million), while the non-tyre segment was worth yen 1092 billion.

In the tyre segment, Japan produced 164.6 million tyres in 2010, around 18.8 percent up on 2009. The fastest growth was in the passenger car segment, where 125 million units were produced. Light truck tyres saw production reach 22 million units, while heavy truck tyre production reached 11.2 million units.

Of these, 40.99 million passenger car tyres were for OE customers 4.990 million light truck tyres were for OE and 0.900 million truck tyres were for OE customers.

While 2010 passenger car sales into the replacement segment were up on 2009 figures, the long term growth trend has been negative.

Winter tyres are taking a progressively larger share of the 4-wheel drive replacement car tyre market. In 2010 the share of winter tyres was 28.3 percent.

The import-export position in Japan has changed significantly. The recession aside, exports appear to have stabilised at around 80 million units, split fairly evenly around the world

On the import front, imports from North America have progressively declined, while imports from China boomed to a maximum of 27 million units in 2006 and have since fallen back to 22.5 million units from a total of 25 million units.

JATMA monitors tyre defects identified at service intervals and by far the dominat defect is low tyre pressure, present on 23.7 percent of tyres inspected.

The book gives time-series data on japan's production of tyres and tubes; on domestic shipments and sales of OE and replacement tyres.

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Tire Industry 2011 from JATMA