Dunlop Aircraft Tyres swings to loss as exits C-17 supply contract

Birmingham, UK – Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd has reported a swing from profit to loss in its 2025 annual report, as revenue and margins came under pressure following its exit from a supply deal to Boeing C-17 fleet.

In a 29 May annual report, the UK tire maker posted a loss before tax of £291,000 (€336,000), compared with a £2.1 million profit a year earlier.

Sales for the year fell 2.9% year-on-year to £55.383 million, driven mainly by the “loss of ‘C-17 business,’” but up 4.4% excluding the C-17 impact.

The company said the aviation sector continued to recover, with “commercial aircraft traffic exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2025 as was the case in 2024.”

However, the tire maker pointed to ongoing volatility in input costs.

“There is continued variability in raw material, energy prices and inflation,” it said, noting the impact of geopolitical tensions including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict.

Despite the revenue headwind, Dunlop said it has secured “new business opportunities to reverse the adverse impact from the loss of C-17 contract,” but did not provide further details.

DATL said 29% of its sales were linked to EU markets outside the UK, also highlighting ongoing currency sensitivity, particularly to US dollar movements.

During the year, the company said it faced temporary US tariffs on selected imports, which were later reversed.

The reversal, DATL said, came following “market actions, including discussion on pricing actions, supplier negotiations and supply chain adjustments.”

The company also confirmed the closure of a legal case brought by Lothbury Property Trust, which “was successfully closed,” with the claimant agreeing to contribute towards Dunlop’s legal costs.