Global tyre recovery in full swing

ERJ staff report (DS)

Paris - Michelin has updated its website with tyre market data for the month of April. Once again latest figures show a continued and healthy recovery in demand in all markets.

In the OE truck tyre segment, every market in the world rose in the month of April and for the first time every market rose in the year to date. The site gives only percentage changes, not absolute numbers.

The year so far saw 10.7 percent growth in European OE truck sales reversing the downward trend for the first time in months. April's sales actually grew by a remarkable 58.8 percent year on year. The steady improvement in North American truck OE sales continued, with sales in the first four months up by 18.1 percent, though the growth in April was much stronger, at 40.8 percent.

The Brazilian market's sharp recovery also continued in April. The year to date showed growth of 55.6 percent, with the April figures up by 60.1 percent. Japan's markets continue to show huge growth, with sales in the year to date running at over double (106.5 percent growth) the same period in 2009. Compared to last April, sales were up by a remarkable 160.9 percent. China saw stronger OE sales in April, continuing the steady recovery, with OE sales up by 17.2 percent in the year to date, following a 15.6 percent improvement in the month of April.

Truck replacement tyres in April showed universal growth, as volumes increased around the world. European truck tyre markets grew by 34.7 percent in the first four months,and by 22.7 percent in April. North America grew by 24.7 percent in the year to April, again helped by an increase of 37.2 percent in the year-on-year figure.

In Brazil, a year-on-year increase of 22.7 percent brought the four-month figure to a healthy 32.0 percent growth. The recovery in Japanese replacement truck tyre sales continued in April, up by 14.4 percent in the year to date and up by 15.2 percent in the month of April. China sales for the month grew by 11.9 percent in April, making sales in the first four months 13.4 percent higher than a year before.

The OE car business continues to grow from last year's poor figures. Michelin said the total European OE market for car tyres in the four months to April 2010 was up by 33.6 percent, while the year-on-year figure for April increased by 21.2 percent. The North American market also grew strongly over a depressed market a year ago, with the equivalent figures showing an increase of 64.7 percent for the four-month period and a year-on-year increase in April of 45.8 percent.

China's OE demand was up by a massive 66.5 percent in the year to date and up by an healthy 34.4 percent in April.

In the replacement business, the steady growth in Europe accelerated. In April the four-month figures showed a growth of 10.4 percent while the one-month figure grew by 13.4 percent. In North America, the replacement market grew by 9.7 percent in the first four months, helped by an increase of 12.4 percent in the most recent month. Chinese replacement sales continued to grow, showing growth of 24.8 percent in the year to date helped by an increase of 34.1 percent in the most recent month.

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Press release from Michelin