Michelin Figures Reveal Varying Fortunes

Michelin reports healthy OE sales of radial truck tyres throughout Europe in May and for the 2008 year to date. Sales for the month were 11.2 per cent greater than those of a year earlier. Sales were significantly weaker in the replacement market, were a decline of 12.5 per cent on May 2007 was reported, and in both the OE and replacement segments of the European market. During the month unit sales for these dropped 4.9 and 4.3 per cent respectively. Sales of OE passenger car tyres for the period between January and the end of May, contrary to the month’s figures, were up 3.1 per cent, while the replacement sales dropped 1.9 per cent. Truck tyre OE sales increased 14.3 per cent in Europe between January and May, while sales in the replacement market was down 4.6 per cent on the five-month period of 2007.

The North American car and truck tyre market continued to show declines for both OE and replacement in May, with OE car tyre sales 17.8 per cent less than in May 2007 and replacement market sales 5.7 per cent down. Truck sales were 6.5 per cent less for OE and 13.1 per cent for replacement market. These muted figures contrast starkly with those in Brazil, where the replacement truck tyre market was an impressive 30.1 per cent larger in May 2008 as opposed to a year earlier, and the OE truck tyre market 9.1 per cent stronger.

Deutsche Bank analysts commented that industry volumes during the first 5 months have been below Michelin management targets for the full year, especially for replacement markets in Europe. However they comments that, on the plus side, emerging markets are still strong and the mix is still richer. The analysts further remark that May is a relatively small month, and that June is more crucial as it traditionally represents a quarter of total H1 volumes.