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Tyre Market in Line for a Sell-in Bounce

Market analysts are predicting tyre industry sell-in sales volumes will improve sharply in the second quarter of 2009. Morgan Stanley experts explained in an investor’s note issued on 9 April that production cuts of between 40 and 60 per cent in OE and 10 to 40 per cent in replacement tyre production in January and February were “far more draconian than anticipated,” but nonetheless “deliberate and forthright” action. “We estimate Michelin’s sell-in tyre volume through the first two months of the year has declined approximately 20 per cent, assuming constant market share. Simply put, we believe this pace of volume decline is not sustainable,” the analysts commented.

The theory is that dealers that de-stocked tyres rather than purchase additional products at the beginning of 2009 are currently, or will soon, run low on inventory and therefore tyre factories must start running again. “We forecast Michelin tyre volume down 6.6 per cent for the full year, implying rest-of-year volumes down 3.9 per cent. At a minimum, we expect the extraordinary pace of volume decline to diminish sharply and soon.”

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin India Launches Primacy LC

With a view to increase its market share in the high-performance tyre segment, Michelin today launched its new product for the Indian market. “With the launch of ‘Primacy LC’ tyre, we are hopeful of increasing our market share in high-performance tyre segment significantly,” Michelin India CEO Jean Paul Caylar said in a statement. The new tyre is set to become the company’s next ‘best seller’ in Asia Pacific, he said, replacing its previous generation Energy MXV8 tyre.

The new product is aimed at cars such as Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb, Skoda Laura, Toyota Innova, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Maruti SX4 Zxi.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Increases its European OE Market Share

During 2008, Continental’s market share of the European original equipment market is said to have increased from 30 per cent to over 32 per cent. In contrast to this growth, the company reports it “sacrificed” some of its “unprofitable business” in the NAFTA states and South America, reducing its market share to 14 per cent – as planned. In total, Continental sold almost 40 million original equipment passenger and light truck tyres last year. The German company is anticipating fewer sales to vehicle manufacturers in 2009 and expects the market will pick up again in the fourth quarter. At the same time, Conti reports it will continue to focus on profitable deals in NAFTA countries. Supplies to Asian car manufacturers, which last year accounted for 0.7 million tyres, are forecast to remain fundamentally unchanged.

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hero Forza F278 Inks JMC Light Truck OE Contract

Federal’s second brand Hero has announced that Jiangling Motors has signed a deal to fit the Forza F278 light truck tyre in size 700/R16 10PR as original equipment on its commercial vehicles. The radial is built with a durable steel belt and stronger casing, designed to withstand higher loading capacity.

Initially introducing international advanced technology to the manufacturing of pick-up trucks in the mid-1980s, JMC has become one of the largest commercial vehicle enterprises in China, of which the market share of light truck reaches 28 per cent. Hero’s deal with JMC allows the brand to tap into this market potential, by placing the Forza F278 LTR so prominently.

19th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Restructuring to Affect UK Operations

A letter to shareholders in Advanced ID Corporation, sent by company chairman Seymour Kazimirski on February 9, indicates that changes to the firm’s UK operations are afoot. Specific details of these changes and what they mean to the company’s Derbyshire based Pneu-Logic subsidiary, however, were not set out.

“As we enter the New Year, I would like to take this opportunity to summarise the goals we have established for 2009,” began Kazimirski. “You are all well aware of the challenges we faced in 2008 with the systemic breakdown of the capital markets worldwide. More specific to Advanced ID, we experienced the meltdown of the auto industry, which has greatly impacted the tyre industry. Estimates of decreased global tyre production are upwards of 40 per cent. We are working to meet these challenges.”

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Foundation Stone Laid at New Ceat Plant

The foundation stone for Ceat Ltd’s planned new facility in Gujarat, India has officially been laid. The honour of laying the stone went to Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi, who was present at the site in Halol along with RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka, Ceat managing director Paras K Chowdhary and Ceat vice president (sales and marketing) Arnab Banerjee. The greenfield project, when it enters its first phase of operation, will employ more than 1,000 workers.

27th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Australia and Bridgestone New Zealand Join Forces

As of January 1, Bridgestone Australia Ltd. (BSAL) and Bridgestone New Zealand Ltd. (BSNZ) have officially become a single organisation. The joining together means BSAL will be the shareholder of BSNZ. However, Bridgestone reports that the two companies will retain their own identity and maintain their respective Board of Directors.

Shawn Hara, BSAL Group chairman and managing director, said the closer relations between the two companies will allow for greater sharing of knowledge and resources. “This joining of forces will strengthen operations, giving the company a competitive advantage in the market,” commented Hara. “As the Australian and New Zealand markets are similar, the joining of operations provides opportunities to improve our joint product and service delivery to improve customer satisfaction and to increase our market share in both countries.

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MTNA Produces 1,000,000th Ringtread

Last December, Marangoni management and employees celebrated the production of the millionth Ringtread in the United States. The seven-digit number was reached on December 12, four and a half years after the first tyre was retreaded with Marangoni’s Alpha-Ring system in the US.

During a staff celebration to mark the occasion, company CEO and president Bill Sweatman said “Today, we manufactured our one millionth Ringtread here in the United States. We are proud and thankful that we have been able to achieve this important milestone. This is the icing on the cake in a year full of successes! Our unit sales have increased more than 10 per cent this year and along with other improvements we’ve made we have gained in both market share and market strength.

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Wants Stoke Manufacturing to Continue Despite Downturn

Michelin’s eight decade manufacturing presence in Stoke-on-Trent is likely to be maintained despite a downturn in sales during the second half of 2008. This drop in business, reflected by the facility’s first ever prolonged Christmas period closure, may lead to job losses in 2009 – however the company retains a positive outlook for its future.

5th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Delticom Growing in Europe Despite Weak Market Conditions

Delticom AG’s client base may grow by as much as a quarter in 2009. In an interview, company CFO Frank Schuhardt said that Delticom’s retail customer base could reach three million by the middle of the year, compared with 2.4 million at the end of September 2008. Sales at the German company for 2008 will be “in the middle” of a range of 240 million euros to 260 million euros, he added.

18th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Back in Indian Four Wheel Market

Continental has launched several products on the Indian market to cater for four-wheel vehicles and is hoping to secure OE agreements with Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, The Hindu’s Business Line news source reports. The website quotes Andrea Esser, the company’s executive vice president (replacement Asia), saying, “We are in discussion with Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra for their domestic as well as export vehicles.”

Esser commented on the launch, saying that it represents, “part of our overall growth strategy and commitment to the Asia Pacific region. With the growth in auto industry here, we believe that we should actively take part in India. We plan to develop a significant market share in India.” Questioned about where the tyres would be coming from, Esser maintained that they would all be imported and that there are no plans as yet to produce domestically: “Currently we will be importing tyres only as sales are very low. Once it attains a good volume, then we may think of locally producing our tyres.”

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Reiterates Long-Term Strategic Approach

In preparation for the its Capital Markets Day, held in early December, Trelleborg reiterated the company’s long-term strategic approach, which it says is currently focused on cash flow and adjustments to the prevailing market situation. “We have an increasingly focused and profitable operation within large segments of our business, and we are convinced that we will emerge strengthened from the slowdown that we are currently experiencing in many markets,” said Trelleborg CEO Peter Nilsson.”

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

China Exported 140 Million Tyres in 2007 – Report

A newly released report into China’s tyre industry – states that the country, the world’s largest tyre producer since 2004, manufactured a total of 330 million tyres in 2007; of this number, 70 per cent were radials. Some 40 to 45 per cent of total output is exported, with 140 million units leaving China in 2007.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Columbian to Close US Carbon Black Plant

Due to softer demand for carbon black in North America, Columbian Chemicals announced on November 12 that it will close its production facilities in Marshall, West Virginia, on or around January 31, 2009. Approximately 55 jobs will be lost as a result of the closure.

13th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Martin McGreevy Moves to Manbat Batteries

The sales team at Manbat Batteries has been further strengthened with the appointment Martin McGreevy as the national sales manager for UK and Eire. Coming to Manbat after two years with Jiffy Packaging, where he was the national accounts manager for packaging and packaging systems, McGreevy brings with him 20 years of aftermarket experience – 15 years of which have been in senior sales management positions.

Heading up the entire sales team, the new national sales manager’s role will include guiding the team and helping Manbat customers increase battery sales, handling the key national accounts and developing the business into new markets, something Manbat views as an existing core strength.

23rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors