Russia
Rosneft president and chairman of the management board Igor Sechin has held negotiations with Pirelli’s top management including Marco Tronchetti Provera on the subject of expanding the two companies well reported cooperation.
Berovich Portnoy has succeeded Anwar Fasikhovich Vakhitov as factory director of the Nizhnekamsk SSC Tire Factory in Russia’s Republic of Tartarstan following the latter’s appointment as director of the Tatneft-Neftekhim Management Company. Portnoy was previously chief engineer at the Nizhnekamsk SSC Tire Factory, a position he held since 2007. Vakhitov was appointed executive director of the newly-established Nizhnekamsk SSC Tire Factory in March 2007 and headed construction of the plant before named factory director when it entered operation in 2009.
The influence online tyre retailing is growing so fast that 20 per cent of Europe tyres sales could take place online by 2020. That’s the view of market analysts at Frost & Sullivan, which also reports that the influence of the internet on the auto industry can be seen in the continuous growth of the eRetailing market for automotive parts in general. According to the analysts, eRetailing of automotive components has given aftermarket participants a fresh boost and presents a new sales channel dynamic enough to be in sync with evolving macro-economic conditions and also flexible enough to address customer needs by offering a personalized shopping experience.
Volkswagen has delivered nearly two million passenger cars in the first four months of 2014, setting a new record for the period. 1.99 million vehicles were handed over to customers in the period to April, representing an increase of 4.6 per cent (January-April 2013: 1.91 million). Christian Klingler, board member for sales and marketing for the Volkswagen Group, attributed the success to “good sales developments in China and Europe” and “sustained high demand” for heritage products such as the Golf, now in its seventh generation.
Yokohama Rubber reports that its operating income reached a record high in the first quarter of 2014. On the back of net income of net sales that were up 9.6 per cent year-on-year to 139.9 billion yen (£810.9 million), operating income jumped 54.6 to 11.7 billion yen (£67.8 million). Net income, at 6.5 billion yen (£37.7 million), was 14.8 per cent higher than in the first quarter of 2013. Sales and earnings increased in each of Yokohama’s three business sectors: tyres, industrial products, and other products. The company says its tyre business’ strong performance reflected robust growth in Japan and sales growth overseas. Operating income benefited in each business sector from a downward trend in raw material prices and from the weakening of the yen, as well as from sales growth.
Pirelli says its first quarter 2014 performance reflects the recovery in demand within Europe that was first witnessed in the final quarter of last year along with the good health of the premium segment, where the Italian tyre maker is focused. The company also points out the positive performance of its business in Russia, where revenues bucked market treads to increase 5.4 per cent (excluding exchange rate effects) and profitability stood at “high single digit levels.”
Federal Tyres is using its link with Manchester United FC to foster its current focus on the Russian market. The Taiwanese tyre maker invited a select group of Russian tyre dealers and journalists to the UK this week as part of its ‘Awaken the Champion Inside’ campaign in Russia. The guests watched Manchester United take down Hull City by three goals to one and Federal used the three-day event to develop stronger connections with its Russian distributors, dealers and customers.
Finland’s Nokian Tyres Group has reported a year-on-year decline in sales, operating profit and earnings during the first quarter of 2014. Despite a growth in sales volumes, currency devaluation – particularly in the Russian rouble – led to net sales between 1 January and 31 March declining 6.3 per cent to €311.9 million. Operating profit for the period was €68.4 million, 10.4 per cent below the same period a year earlier, and profit for the period amounted to €38.7 million, a year-on-year drop of 39.1 per cent. Earnings per share came to €0.29 as opposed to €0.48 a year earlier.
Marco Tronchetti Provera does not expect Western Sanctions against Russia to have any impact on Rosneft’s acquisition of a 13 per cent shareholding in Pirelli. Reuters reports that the Pirelli chairman and CEO told journalists on the sideline of an event that “the timetable of the deal is confirmed, nothing has changed.”
While Goodyear Tire & Rubber has expressed satisfaction with the US$373 segment operating income earned in the first quarter of 2014, chairman and CEO Richard Kramer acknowledged the effect of ‘headwinds’ in emerging markets during the three-month period, particularly the impact of Venezuela on the company’s Latin America business. Segment operating income was up 24 per cent year-on-year and had a margin of 8.3 per cent; this is the fourth consecutive quarter where SOI margin has exceeded eight per cent.
Federal Tyres has announced its intention to showcase and celebrate its 60th anniversary at Reifen 2014. The Taiwanese manufacturer will display a full range of PCR product lines, which includes UHP, SUV, and winter tyres, as well as its extensive motorsport selection.
During the first quarter of the 2014 fiscal year, Michelin experienced a 3.4 per cent rise in volumes, with fast original equipment segment momentum and growth in the truck tyre business, while weak mining tyre sales were offset by growth in aviation and two-wheel tyre business within the specialty tyre segment. This increase in volumes did not translate to higher net sales, however.
Overall Michelin Group sales declined 2.4 per cent year-on-year to €4.76 billion.
The state of various European economies varies significantly, there are signs that the tyre markets are picking up and – if some of the large tyre makers’ recent financial reports are anything to go by – premium tyre sales are what are needed to turn green shoots into green backs.
An agreement concluded today between Toyo Tire & Rubber and Associazione Calcio Milan – AC Milan – gives the Japanese tyre maker Premium Sponsor status with the football club until June 2016. Toyo says the sponsorship deal will influence its global branding content and help the company to “more clearly bring out the potential premium image of the products we offer.” It anticipates “significant” medium-term advantages will result from the partnership in Europe and Asia, and in two regions where Toyo is “contemplating market expansion” – the Middle East and Russia.
Russia’s Baltika Breweries, a member of the Carlsberg Group, is the largest player in the country’s beer market and holds a 36.8 per cent market share. The company operates eleven breweries and a number of maltings and distribution centres across Russia, and operates a sizable fleet of forklift trucks in these facilities. Starco reports that Baltika has adopted its Starco-brand Tusker forklift tyre as standard across this fleet fleet.
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