Sentury Tire earnings dip on rising costs, competition

Shanghai, China – Sentury Tire has reported a 37.0% year-on-year drop in earnings (net profit attributable to shareholders) to Yuan667.2 million (€80.1 million) on first half sales about level at Yuan4,120 million.

Over the first six months of 2025, the Chinese manufacturer faced “significant year-on-year increases in raw material prices and “intensified competition” in the tire industry.

Business, stated Sentury, was also impacted by “heightened uncertainty” regarding trade tariffs being imposed by the US Trump administration.

More broadly, the company said its overall operating performance “remained largely consistent with the overall development trends of the tire and automotive industries.”

From January to June 2025, the company produced 15.5695 million tires, a year-on-year decrease of 3.21%.

Of this total, 15.0405 million semi-steel (light vehicle) tires were produced, a decrease of 3.56% year-on-year, while 529,000 full-steel (heavy vehicle) tires were produced, a 7.72% increase.

Tire sales declined 1.5% year-on-year to 14.8703 million units: semi-steel tires down 1.65% to 14.3703 million; while 500,000 full-steel tires were sold, a 3.11% increase.

Sentury described first-half demand for semi-steel tires as “relatively stable” both in Chinese and overseas markets.

While international tariffs were putting pressure on prices at the company's “overseas factories, order demand continues to outstrip supply.”

“Despite disruptions from US trade policies, demand for passenger car and light truck tires remains strong in the European and American consumer market,” it said.

Sentury added that its production ‘triangle’ in China, Thailand, and Morocco is providing “strong support” in the face of global competition.

Amid “intense competition” In the domestic market, meanwhile, the company is leveraging its “existing channel advantages [and] strengths of its new retail model.”

Sentury went on to cite government data showing that China's rubber tire production increased 2.0% year-on-year to reach 592 million units over the six months to 30 June.

Meanwhile, 349 million new pneumatic rubber tires were exported in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%, the analysis also showed.