Tyre trio make Fortune Global 500 list

Fortune has released this year’s ‘Global 500’ list, which names the world’s largest companies in respect to turnover for the fiscal year ending before or on 31 March 2013. While no tyre firm could hold a candle to Royal Dutch Shell, whose revenues of US$481.7 billion propelled it into the number one position, three leading tyre majors made it onto the list.

Germany’s Continental showed up exactly halfway through the Global 500, ranking at 250 with a turnover of $42.1 billion. Admittedly, only around 40 per cent of this turnover was generated by the company’s Rubber Group; when rated solely on tyre sales, Continental would have failed to make the Global 500 grade. 

The next tyre manufacturer to put in an appearance was Bridgestone, who with a 2012 turnover of $38.1 billion secured place 283 on the list. Further down the Global 500, at position 421, came Michelin. The French manufacturer reported a 2012 turnover of $27.6 billion. Goodyear, with 2012 turnover of $20.9 billion, found itself on the wrong side of the 500th place cutoff. 

When calculating revenue, Fortune’s figures include consolidated subsidiaries and reported revenues from discontinued operations, but exclude excise taxes.