Pirelli’s Scorpion Graces Australia in WRC Round
Rally Australia is back on a new route after two years of absence from the WRC calendar, and it looks like being one of the most interesting events of the 2009 Championship.
Now one of the largest tyre-producing countries in the world, China has an indisputable influence on the direction of global tyre trade. The home of both fast-growing up-and-coming brands as well as a burgeoning domestic market, this tag chronicles China’s involvement with the tyre business.
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Infinity Brand Pushing Forwards with Bond International
Career TracksInfinity, a brand belonging to the Al Dobowi Group, is continuing to carve out a growing spot within the UK passenger car tyre market. Its relationship with Bond International, with whom Al Dobowi has developed a significant relationship in the four years since it was appointed the exclusive UK distributor four years ago, was the focus of an event hosted by key members of the Infinity Europe and Al Dobowi companies in the plush surroundings of York Racecourse earlier in the year.
Report: July Sell-in Market ‘Stabilising’
NewsEuropean and worldwide tyre markets are finally stabilising, according to a report released today (3 September). Writing in response to the latest round of market figures issued by leading French tyre manufacturer, Michelin, market analysts at Morgan Stanley described their view of the current market conditions as “slightly better than our expectations.” Despite highlighting the fact that the data continues to show negative year-to-date growth rates in almost every market, the analysts focused on the fact that the pace of the decline “showed material improvements compared to year-to-date trends and it looks on track to exceed our volume forecast for the quarter.
Transense Signs MOU With Mesnac
International News, NewsTransense has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Qingdao Mesnac Co. Ltd, the parent company of the Sailun brand’s tyre manufacturing division. According to an official statement, Transense and Mesnac have entered into an agreement to combine their individual areas of expertise, for the purpose of developing Transense's patented tyre pressure monitoring sensor technology for the attachment or embedding of these sensors into tyres. Under the terms of the agreement Mesnac have agreed to an initial upfront payment and will pay additional sums for technology transfer/engineering support on an as required basis. Transense shares rose 17 per cent following the news.
Marangoni Manufacturing Ringtreads for the World
RetreadingIn its Ringtread treads the Marangoni Group has a product that has been effectively developed since its introduction in the 1970s. When the Italian tread manufacturer and retreader took over Germany’s Ellerbrock GmbH in 1990, the share of total production dedicated to Ringtread production was no more than 20 per cent. Today global share has grown to around 50 per cent; Ringtreads are manufactured in Ferentino, Italy, at Ellerbrock in Germany, in Nashville, USA, and in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Presently in Europe around 55 per cent of treads sold by the Marangoni Group are Ringtreads. And, according to Guiseppe Ferrari, managing director of Marangoni’s Retreading Systems business unit, a still higher European market share is possible.
Committee Urges Obama to Support USW Petition
LegislationIn a letter to President Obama, David Hartquist, executive director of the Committee to Support US Trade Laws (CSUSTL), encouraged the President to support a petition brought by the United Steelworkers union.
Rubber Prices to Rise with Rising Chinese Vehicle Sales in 2010
NewsA report on Bloomberg.com suggests that rubber prices will climb by up to 19 per cent by the end of 2010, as demand for vehicles in China witnesses continued growth.
Toyo Tires is Back on Track
Career TracksWhen at the start of the year Japanese manufacturer Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. put the brakes on expenditure in response to the global economic and financial crisis, the package of measures implemented were received with a shock: layoffs, massive budget cutbacks, withdrawal from the Tokyo Motor Show, restrictions upon travel for management and so on. Later it became public knowledge that top managers voluntarily forewent their bonuses. Since that time a collective sigh of relief has been breathed that some of the restrictions didn’t turn out to be as severe as first anticipated, and for Toyo’s factories in particular the tide has turned. "Our plant utilisation in Japan is already approaching a hundred per cent," comments Tatsuo Mitsuhata (44), executive vice president Toyo Tire Europe. The company’s Japanese competitors are somewhat lagging in this respect and their recovery not occurring as quickly as Toyo’s.
Green Shoots or a False Dawn?
Career TracksRecent positive economic indicators coming out of Europe, Asia and the US have given analysts reason to forecast a recovery in the global logistics industry. However for global freight and parcel volumes and revenues to rebound significantly – and therefore the tyre sales which rely on logistics firms’ prosperity – analysts at Datamonitor suggest there will need to be “major improvements in consumer confidence, industrial output and subsequent international trade volumes.”
Toyo Ends China JVs, Announces Construction of New Factory
Career TracksWhen building its all-new factory in China, Toyo Tire & Rubber will be going it alone. During a Board of Directors meeting on August 27, the company decided to end its joint venture agreements for tyre production in China. Toyo has operated Cheng Shin-Toyo Tire & Rubber (China) Co., Ltd. together with Taiwan’s Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co., Ltd. since the end of 1995, with a focus upon manufacturing car tyres and tubes for the Chinese market. The company also began a partnership, Cheng Shin-Toyo Tire (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., with Maxxis International Co., Ltd. in 2002, producing commercial vehicle radials. Both joint ventures have been terminated as of August 27.
Italmatic Offers Global Reach
RetreadingRetread manufacturing equipment and garage supply specialist Italmatic Srl may be based in Italy, but the company has long established global intentions. In addition to the Italian headquarters, a far eastern wing (50:50 joint venture, Italmatic Asia) was founded in Singapore in 1984 and the company also has a network of offices in the USA and the UK. Now, 40 years since the company produced its first buffing machines, the goal is to serve customers throughout Europe, Asia and North America with „full technological, training and marketing support.”
Cooper Sales up 40% in China
International NewsDuring the first half of the year Chinese market sales of Cooper Tire & Rubber’s passenger car tyres increased 40 per cent, beating the company’s own 34 per cent target. Truck and bus tyre sales, which account for 65 per cent of Cooper’s China business, grew by double digits in the first half.
US Tariffs – Compatible with WTO Rules?
International NewsAs Reuters notes, the decision as to whether or not the US will impose tariffs on Chinese made consumer tyres is not a straightforward one. As the news service pointed out on August 26, Chinese trade sources indicate that these tariffs may not line up with a safeguard mechanism China agreed to when it joined the World Trade Organisation.
China's Rubber Imports Jump 25% in July
International NewsChina's natural rubber imports jumped 25.8 per cent to 165,876 metric tons in July. Malaysian news sources cite customs reports that show the figure is close to an 11-year high which last peaked in March. China buys rubber from main producers Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as Vietnam, Cambodia and West Africa. The high comes off the back of China’s strong passenger car sales in July, which jumped 70.54 per cent from a year ago.
Yokohama Expands China Operations
International NewsYokohama Rubber Co. is reportedly expanding the capacity of its Hanzhou Yokokahama Tire Co. passenger car tyre plant in China. Hangzhou Yokohama’s annual capacity of 3 million units a year is expected to grow to 4.1 million passenger and light truck tyres from 2011, following investment of 3 billion yen (214 million yuan). This is the fourth capacity expansion since Hanzhou Yokohama started production in 2003. Yokohama makes its ASPEC A349 low rolling resistance tyre in China and expects general car ownership to increase 10 per cent annually in the years to come.
