European tire makers report strong sales growth

ERJ staff report (PR)

Brussels – Tire makers have seen double-digit growth in almost all European markets during the first quarter of 2014, figures from the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) show.

Compared to a very slow start to 2013, ETRMA members reported strong growth in most product categories, said a 15 April update, The consumer segment, it noted, grew by 10 percent to 51,115,000 units, while demand for truck & bus tires was up by 16 percent to 2,174,000 units.

Agricultural tires showed seven percent growth to 499,000 units, and motorcycle and scooter tires reached 3,018,000 - 12 percent higher than in the first three months of 2013.

The positive performance was shared by almost all countries, the Brussels-based industry body added. Growth, however, was "particularly high" for the DACH - Germany, Switzerland and Austria - region - suggesting that sales were less-than-buoyant in some parts of the EU.

"A good start is half the battle and we can expect also in the coming months a positive development of the market, with a growth between three to four percent at the end of the year, compared to 2013,” commented Fazilet Cinaralp, secretary general of ETRMA.