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China to Play a Role in SRT’s Growth

The attendance of Russian tyre major Sibur – Russian Tyres (SRT) at CITExpo 2007 was perhaps indicative of the unique position the Shanghai show holds as the largest specialist tyre exhibition in the world’s most watched market. Exhibiting alongside the Xarello Group, an important export agent for Sibur – Russian Tyres, the Russian manufacturer and the overseas wholesaler were not seeking to raise their profile with Chinese consumers, nor were they looking for local agents to distribute tyres. So what exactly then attracted the two companies to an exhibition in Shanghai?

22nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bringing the World to China

China at the start of the 21st century can claim to hold a position on the world stage enjoyed by Britain in the 19th – the People’s Republic is the undisputed ‘workshop of the world’, and its swelling output of manufactured products has seen the country grow to become the world’s fourth largest economy. Included in this swift expansion has been tyre industry production – recent figures indicate that China now produces some 330 million tyres annually. Of this amount 235 million are radial types, and two-thirds of these are destined for export. However, China has not merely grown as a production site for meeting the needs of global markets. The Chinese are quickly becoming a nation of consumers, and their appetite for vehicles is voracious. While only six Chinese out of every hundred own a car, research conducted by AC Nielsen indicates that China contains more people who aspire to own a car, but currently do not, than any other country. The outlook for tyre sales within China is thus good, and domestic demand is tipped to surpass export figures in about five years’ time. Whether buying or selling tyres, China is a country that provides many lucrative business opportunities.

21st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Automechanika Returning to Shanghai in December

Automechanika Shanghai – one of China’s leading professional forums for the automotive parts, components and aftermarket industry – will take place from December 5 to 7 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. With over 1,000 exhibitors in six exhibition halls, the 2007 event will be without question the largest Automechanika show ever held in China.

Exhibitors from 24 countries & regions will be in attendance, including those from Belgium, Brazil, China, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and the USA. The fair will also feature the Automechanika Academy and the Match-Making Forum, as in previous years.

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein’s Voronezh Plant in Compliance

Amtel-Vredestein has reported that, contrary to the information given out by Russia’s Interfax news agency that the net assets of OJSC Tyre Complex Amtel-Chernozemye are less than its charter capital, OJSC Amtel-Vredestein confirms that its Voronezh manufacturing facility is in complete compliance with current Russian tax legislation, including the “Law about joint-stock companies”. As of 1 October 2007, and in accordance with reports submitted to the federal tax service department in the Voronezh region, OJSC Tyre Complex Amtel-Chernozemye’s net assets are 366 million roubles (£7.16 million) and its charter capital is 355 million roubles (£6.94 million).

OJSC Amtel-Vredestein is one of the largest investors in the Voronezh region and reports that it has successfully cooperated with its administration for many years. Loss reporting during a long-term investment period is a common Western business-practice. The “Long-term result of our investments are high-quality export-oriented products, based on high-technology, ecologically-friendly Russian facilities. In addition to the obvious advantages to the manufacturer in the form of higher competitiveness and profitability, our investments will also benefit the local economy by creating a higher tax base, additional employment and improvements to the social and economic level of the region,” said Petr Zolotarev, OJSC Amtel-Vredestein general director and Amtel-Vredestein N.V. CEO.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Cut Aims for European Growth

Toddington, Gloucestershire-based Pro-Cut Europe, is aiming to explain its operation after exhibiting at Equip Auto 2007 in Paris between 14-20th October. Pro-Cut Europe attended the Paris exhibition to recruit distributors for the continent. Showcasing the PFM 9.19, the worlds best on-car brake lathe, Pro-Cut Europe Directors Guy Carter and David Smith informed would-be business associates about the unique selling points of the machine and the rapid growth being enjoyed by the brake lathe market.

Pro-Cut Europe have sole distribution rights for the brake lathe in Europe and with development of the UK market meeting forecast expectations, the rapidly expanding Pro-Cut Head Office has already laid the foundations to extend the companies presence in the Continent. Pro-Cut Europe developed the infrastructure for European expansion in the German market 3 years ago and have already sold just under 500 lathes.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Car Market Still Buoyant, Says Report

The much publicised “credit crunch” which has seen interest rates rise sharply this year has not scared off UK car buyers, says ACF Car Finance. The UK market came in at 419,000 units (+1.3 per cent) in September, which is thought to have been spurred on by the new registration plate which pushed private retail sales up by 1.5 per cent. The UK market performed better than was expected, despite fears of a slowing economy and the increased cost of borrowing money.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Reports Strong Q3 Sales Growth

Nokian Tyres has reported a 27.9 per cent increase in third quarter net sales, having earned a total of 236 million euros during the three-month period. This gives the company a year to date net sales increase of 25.2 per cent, up from 533.9 million to 668.9 million euros. Operating profit for the quarter was 51.6 million euros, a 39.5 per cent increase on the same period last year. For the nine months of 2007 operating profit is recorded as 140.8 million euros, a sizeable 64.5 per cent rise from last year’s January to September operating profit of 85.6 million euros. Quarterly net profit was 37.4 million euros, a 36 per cent increase on the July-September 2006 profit of 27.5 million euros, and net profit for the nine-month period stands at 107.5 million euros, 81.2 per cent higher than during the same period last year.

Nokian Tyres’ president and CEO Kim Gran commented “the third quarter, in line with the earlier part of the year, was a success for Nokian Tyres. Net sales grew in all profit centres, and the operating profit improved from the previous year both during the third quarter and the period January-September. Sales grew in all key markets, particularly in Russia.

2nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Tyres Opening First US Vianor Outlets

Nokian Tyres is expanding its Vianor retail chain into the US following the purchase of the Goss Tire Company on October 25. The five tyre outlets in the state of Vermont and one in New York State operated by the US retailer will bring the total number of Vianor outlets in operation up to 340, but will be the first outside of Europe and the former Soviet bloc countries.

The acquisition of Goss Tire enables Nokian to increase its tyre sales and gain access to consumer sales in the US market. Vianor Holding Oy managing director Seppo Kupi said that the company is aiming in the near future to further expand Vianor’s US operations in the area of winter tyres. The 40 people employed by Goss Tire will continue working for the new US Vianor operation.

26th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Outlines Mid-Term Goals

Bridgestone has declared its intention to “establish the status of being the undisputed world number one tyre and rubber company both in name and reality” by means of a new five-year plan unveiled on October 22. This mid-term management plan has been formulated through planning on the part of each of Bridgestone’s strategic business units to maximise use of all global business resources available to them, with these efforts supported by the company’s global management platform.

The intended result of this mid-term plan is an increase in net sales of almost 20 per cent (over its 2007 sales forecast) to 4 trillion yen (£17 billion) by 2012. These funds will be channelled into a number of areas, and to facilitate this Bridgestone will implement a number of key strategies based upon what it calls its “four fundamental management policies.” These strategies include reinforcing and adding value to product areas in which the company has “preceded its competitors”, including run-flat tyres, PCR UHP and winter tyres, as well as Greatec and low profile tyres for trucks and buses. The company also intends to “secure overwhelming competency to ensure long-term superiority” in the area of large OTR radial plus aircraft and motorcycle tyres. Furthermore, Bridgestone reports that “full use” will be made of Bridgestone Bandag, with package solutions being made available to customers in the truck and bus tyre business. This move will potentially see Bridgestone competing on a level in the retreading business previously solely enjoyed by arch rival Michelin, who to date has been the only new tyre manufacturer to market its retreaded products as a tyre option on par with its new tyre range.

22nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Signs JV Agreement in Kazakhstan

After months of speculation about Nokian Tyres’ involvement in a new project in Kazakhstan, the Finnish manufacturer formalised its commitment to establishing a greenfield passenger car tyre factory in this northern Eurasian nation on October 19 through the signing of an agreement with Kazakhstanian multi-industrial company Ordabasy Corporation JSC.

The two parties’ cooperation will take the form of a joint venture company called Ordabasy – Nokian Tyres JSC. Nokian will hold a 10 per cent stake in the joint venture company, with an option to increase ownership to a minimum of 50 per cent.

19th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein to Supply 480,000 Tyres for Renault Logan

Amtel-Vredestein’s Russian subsidiary OJSC Amtel-Vredestein has signed an exclusive contract to supply Amtel tyres for Renault Logan passenger cars produced in Russia. Amtel-Vredestein will be the only Russian tyre producer to supply OJSC Autoframos with original equipment.

The majority of the tyres will be manufactured by Amtel’s Amtel-Povolzhye tyre complex (Kirov). It is projected that the company will supply between 30,000 – 35,000 tyres per month, and will supply a total of 480,000 OE tyres by the end of 2008. According to the company, preparations leading up to the contract took three years.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Acquisition Talks in Russia Abandoned

International News

Following several months of negotiations Bekaert has opted to withdraw from talks with Russian firm ZAO Uralkord regarding a possible takeover. The Russian manufacturer, located in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, produces steel cord products for domestic tyre manufacturers and was viewed as a suitable vehicle through which the Belgian firm could strengthen its position in Russia. As recently as late July Bekaert CEO Bert De Graeve told media that the group was hopeful of closing a deal by the end of the year, adding that about 50 million euros had been offered for the purchase of Uralkord.

Despite this optimism, the deal fell through within three months of De Graeve’s announcement. The reason for this, Bekaert outlined in a statement, is that during “the course of the difficult and protracted negotiations, it became clear that no agreement could be reached with the current shareholders of ZAO Uralkord that would meet Bekaert’s criteria for pursuing its strategy of sustainable profitable growth in Russia.”

15th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Zeppelin Acquires Chronos Richardson’s MPS Division

Zeppelin Silos & Systems GmbH (Friedrichshafen) has acquired Chronos Richardson’s Materials Processing Systems (MPS) division located in Nottingham, UK establishing a new subsidiary in the city. With the consent of the Antitrust Commission Zeppelin’s acquisition of the “Conveying, Dosing and Weighing and Control Technology” product portfolios from the British manufacturer Chronos Richardson has been completed.

According to the company’s the complementary skills of Zeppelin & Chronos will be beneficial for the future development of the important tyre and rubber manufacturing segment. The control technologies, for which Chronos set recognised technical standards, are expected to complete Zeppelin’s product portfolio and the company says the new enterprise will also become a trend-setter for research and development in various industrial sectors in the future. (The world’s largest test centre for the handling of bulk solids including two purpose built research plants (one for pellets and one for powder) is located at the Zeppelin facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany).

11th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

CITExpo 2007 Reports More International Visitors

CITExpo 2007 attracted an increased number of international visitors, according to show organisers Reliable International Exhibition Services Co. Ltd. Their figures show that exhibition traffic totalled 6850 visitors, of which 4000 were domestic Chinese delegates, while 2850 were “foreign.” The were 254 exhibitors, 150 of which have reportedly already rebooked for next year, meaning that up 70 per cent of show space has already been rebooked, according to Reliable. The organisers report that international visitors came from a total of 86 countries including: United States, India, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, Norway and more.

27th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Belshina: Growth Through Investment

The Republic of Belarus has experienced robust economic growth in recent years, with the latest figures showing a growth in GDP of nearly seven per cent. The economy is highly industrialised, with exports playing a crucial part in the growth in prosperity. One of the largest enterprises in Belarus – indeed, one of the largest in Europe – is the Belshina Open Joint-Stock Company. The tyre manufacturer operates three factories, covering an area of 173.6 hectares and employs around 12,000 staff, producing more than 200 sizes and types of tyre, from passenger car up to giant tyres for mining and construction machinery.

Belshina sells tyres on both the replacement and OE markets, having a number of OE contracts with local and foreign vehicle manufacturers across all sectors. (Valtra, Brazil – tractor manufacturer; Terex Equipment Ltd., Scotland – mining and construction machinery manufacturer; Belaz, Belarus – mining machinery; MAZ, Belarus – trucks, KAMAZ, Russia – trucks; MTZ, Belarus – tractors).

24th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors