European tire markets returning to pre-pandemic levels

Brussels – The year 2021 was a “positive year of recovery” for the European tire industry amid 'a very challenging environment', the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has reported.

Apart from the farm tires segment, replacement markets generally fared well last year, with OE truck tires seeing a 25% year-on-year increase in volume to 5.8 million units, according to the ETRMA data published 19 Jan.

Replacement consumer tires were up 14% at 219.5 million units, reflecting a 35% growth in all season volumes at 28.1 million units.

Replacement scooter and moto tires also posted a 14% increase over 2020 with just under 9.7 million units sold.

Replacement agricultural tires, however, reported an overall 3% decline during the year to 1.1 million units, reflecting an 11% fall in the final quarter of the year.

Held back by continued chip shortages within the automotive industry, the original equipment (OE) consumer tires segment also recorded an 8% year-on-year drop, with 67.0 million units sold. 

“Manufacturers are facing multiple opportunities as the sector is rapidly transforming in response to new developments in vehicle technology, mobility, and regulatory policies,” said Fazilet Cinaralp, secretary general of ETRMA.

“Our sector has been resilient through the pandemic, and we look forward for this positive trend to be confirmed and the growth to consolidate in 2022, back to 2019 volumes,” she added.