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ANRPC: 2011 production up 6.4%

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) reports that Q1 2012 Production Growth is expected to marginally increase by 0.3 per cent. During 2011ANRPC's total production rose 6.7 per cent to 10.127 million tons, faster than the 6.4 per cent rate expected until a month ago. The upward revision results from a better-than-expected output from Vietnam for the year. The country produced 811,600 tons of NR in 2011 as against 780,000 tons as anticipated earlier and 751,700 tons produced in the year before.

7th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Research: Indian replacement tyre market to surpass 305 billion rupees 2014

Increasing numbers of vehicles on Indian roads will drive the Indian replacement tyre market past the 305 billion rupee (£4 billion, 4.8 billion, US$6 billion) value level, according to research conducted by TechSci research.

2nd February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre tariff ineffective, Obama told

In his 24 January State of the Union address, US President Barack Obama claimed the country’s trade cases against China have made a difference. Singling out a particular sector, Obama said “over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tyres.” Words that should, on the face of it, bring cheer to the US tyre industry.

26th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Back in REACH – Zafco responds to ETRMA result

Company News, International News, News

Brand representatives report that since its launch in 2005, Zeetex has developed a strong reputation for quality assurance, safety and compliance with environmental requirements, and holds an impressive range of certifications. However, manufacturing body ETRMA found at least one Zeetex branded tyre that was non-REACH compliant was found on the European market in March this year. However, speaking in a recent interview with Tyres & Accessories, the global product manager of Zeetex at Zafco, Zafar Jafri, explained explained the company’s perspective on this issue: “ETRMA found a so-called ‘dirty’ tyre. At that time we were running two production lines (one for international sales and one for Europe).” Explaining that the tyre question was certainly not intended for the European market, Jafri continued by pointing out that the mishandling that led to the aforementioned tyre’s arrival in the European Union could only have come as a result of the mishandling at the factory’s warehouse, similarly unintentional mishandling at Zafco’s distribution centre or via grey-imports.

12th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

ETRMA ‘surprised’ by TWG speech

Company News, International News, News, UK News

Following the publication of Tyres & Accessories’ report on the recent NTDA Tyre Wholesalers Group annual lunch, ETRMA secretary general Fazilet Cinaralp has written an open letter stating her association’s surprise at the issues raised in TWG chairman Ashley Croft’s keynote speech. During the speech, Croft referred to testing, lobbying and the relative importance of the implementation of current tread depth legislation. As our coverage explains, no-one was available to attend the event on behalf of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers association, so here is the association’s response in full:

6th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

New ETRMA stats show European retread recovery in 2010

In its recently released 2011 ‘European Tyre & Rubber Industry’ statistics, the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association states that retreading managed to stage an almost complete recovery in Europe during 2010. Quoting Europool figures, the ETRMA shares that after experiencing a 21 per cent decrease within the region from 2007 to 2009, with unit sales dropping from 5,800,000 to 4,561,000 during this time, in 2010 retread unit sales rose 22.9 per cent year-on-year to 5,605,000. The number of retreads sold within Europe last year is thus only 3.3 per cent lower than 2007 levels, the ETRMA notes.

28th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

India tyre cartel allegation under investigation

India-based news website Livemint.com reports that antitrust regulator the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is looking into a possible cartel within India’s tyre industry. The CCI began its investigation following receiving a report from its director general earlier this year. This report concluded that the five leading Indian five makers, who together control 95 per cent of the domestic market, and the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) colluded to fix prices. Now the CCI is, says Livemint.com, looking into the allegation more closely with a view to holding a hearing in December.

16th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

"It is official": Union City mayor announces Titan plant purchase

Following speculation, the mayor of Union City Terry L Hailey has confirmed Titan Internationsl's purchase of the former Goodyear plant in Union City, Tennessee in a Facebook status update. Hailey's Facebook message reads: "Good News! Titan Tire has bought the Goodyear facility in Union City. We look forward to a lasting relationship with Titan. It is official."

11th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre demand to grow 12 per cent annually in Saudi Arabia

Demand for tyres and tubes is set to grow by 12 per cent annually in Saudi Arabia according to a new report published by Research and Markets called "Automotive Tire Industry in Saudi Arabia". The largest market for tyres in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia still imports most of its demand, with the annual value of tyres needed to feed the market adding up to almost US$800 million. This equates to 13 million units every year and volumes are expected to keep on rising as consumer demand increases over the next few years.

4th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

US to implement anti-dumping tariffs against Chinese steel wheels

The US Department of Commerce has announced that it has preliminarily decided to implement a range of anti-dumping (AD) measures against Chinese steel wheel producers/exporters ranging from 110.58 to 193.54 per cent ad valorem. According the department, for the purposes of AD investigations, dumping means “a foreign company sell[ing] a product in the United States at less than fair value.” Official reports show that the petitioners for this investigation were Accuride Corporation and Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. The final determination is scheduled to be made in March 2012. European authorities levelled a similar determination against Chinese alloy wheel makers in 2010.

1st November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin reaffirms 8% 2011 sales growth

Michelin’s third quarter financial report for 2011 has shown total net sales of 5.1 billion euros and nine-month total sales of 15.2 billion euros, figures that represent positive changes of 10.6 per cent and 17.3 per cent for their respective periods. Sales volumes were up 9.3 per cent, allowing the French giant to proclaim its results “solid” and to reaffirm “that growth in sales volumes should trend towards eight per cent by year end.” The company noted the “slower momentum” of the third quarter, particularly noticeable in the passenger car and light truck tyres segment, which was up only 5.9 per cent to 2.7 billion euros in the quarter. Michelin also said its “pricing policy added 10 per cent to nine-month sales growth”, offsetting “the full-year impact of higher raw materials costs”.

31st October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

United Steelworkers chief seeks Triangle Akron plans delay

United Steelworkers (USW) president Leo Gerard has asked the Obama administration to coordinate an inquiry into the recent agreement between the University of Akron and China’s Triangle Group, reports Tire Review. In a 12 October letter written to Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council, Gerard stated: “Polymer research has critical economic and national security applications and the transfer of technology contemplated by this relationship demands strict scrutiny.”

20th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

USW questions tyre tariff opponent’s ‘conflicting position’

Campaigning for the next US presidential election is underway, and even candidates’ positions on tyre-related issues are being held up to the light for further examination. One candidate to find this out is Republican hopeful Mitt Romney, who has been criticised by United Steelworkers (USW) International president Leo W. Gerard over inconguencies between current campaign claims and his previous position on Chinese tyre tariffs.

14th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Report: 2010’s new car sales helped repair puncture in tyre market

Higher new vehicle registrations in 2010 helped to repair a price deflation puncture in the UK tyre and tube market in 2009. According to a new report published by Key Note, the tough economic conditions in 2009 resulted in the UK market value for tyres and tubes deflating by 8.4 per cent at manufacturers’ selling prices (msp). Their view is that a boost in new vehicle registrations in 2010 and inflationary price increases helped the apparent market undo this, growing by 12.6 per cent in 2010.

13th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Hangzhou ZhongCe grows and grows – but prudently

Without exception, Chinese tyre manufacturers aim their European market production at the budget segment, where they are most competitive. However the ‘cover charge’ costs for entering the European market – the expensive testing for REACH and the tyre label – plus swelling production costs in China due to raw material and labour expenses are reducing their competitiveness in Europe. Any manufacturer wishing to build up long-term customer relationships and secure a healthy market share without needing to rely upon spot market brokers and purchasers must therefore focus upon their distribution channels and, in particular, deliver a product whose quality is far removed from the old ‘low budget equals low quality’ stereotype. One company already taking considerable steps in this direction is Hangzhou ZhongCe; recently the company allowed its European customers a glimpse behind the scenes at its factory in China and discussed its plans for the future.

5th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors