Pirelli: No significant market changes
According to a statement published yesterday, Pirelli doesn’t expect that a possible deterioration in the tyre market will influence its projected performance in the 2018 financial year.
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Fewer car tyres sold in June, OE truck tyre sales higher
Demand for car and light commercial vehicle tyres in Europe declined year-on-year in June. In its monthly market update, Michelin reports that demand for both original equipment and replacement market tyres was two per cent lower compared with June 2016. The tyre maker comments that this weakening demand was driven by sell-in price increases against a backdrop of slowing sales momentum. For the year to 30 June, demand in the original equipment market was up one per cent year-on-year, while demand in the replacement segment is two per cent higher.
Global tyre markets May 2015
Weakness in the Russia and CIS region held European passenger car and truck tyre sales back in May 2015. According to market figures released by Michelin yesterday, the original equipment passenger car tyre market in Europe (including Russia/CIS and Turkey) remained at the same level as May 2014, while the replacement market shrank three per cent year-on-year. These two markets are still respectively three per cent and one per cent higher year-on-year for the January to May 2015 period.
Looking up? Why there’s more room for tyre demand improvements
Our review of the year at the end of last year, pointed out how many sources had expected better times for the tyre retail market in 2014. Now as we move forward into 2015, Tyres & Accessories examines the current case for the demand recovery in the market. Many of the wider economic indicators point to broad economic recovery. At the same time pay is rising and inflation is levelling off at around 1 per cent, meaning household incomes should be rising. Furthermore fuel prices are lower than they have been for years. And of course, all this should lead to greater tyre sales volumes and even improved product mix. It is customary to be positive and even optimistic at this time of year, wishing everyone a happy new year etc, but the question remains with regard to our tyre market predictions – will it?
Tyre labelling ‘debacle’; ‘4-6.5m part worn tyre sales’
RH Claydon’s John Parker gave his first Tyre Wholesalers Group speech as chairman at the group’s annual lunch in November. Parker covered the current state of the market, before summing up current views on part worn tyres and tyre labelling, the latter of which he labelled a “debacle”. Attending the event, Tyres & Accessories reports the contents of Parker’s speech below. Parker contextualised what he had to say with current UK market figures. Saying that the consumer tyre replacement market has “stabilised at about 34m units give or take”, he reserved judgement on whether this represented a corner starting to be turned, while noting that this did not take into account part worn sales.
Malaysian tyre market to grow 9% (CAGR) in next five years
The Malaysian tyre market is forecast to grow 9.15 per cent (compound annual growth rate – CAGR) in terms of value in the period between 2014 and 2019. That’s the view of the recently released TechSci Research report, “Malaysia Tyre Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019”. According to the report, some of the key factors driving the market include increase in volume sales of automobiles, expansion in vehicle fleet size, introduction of favorable government policies and rise in foreign investments within the automotive industry in Malaysia.
Tyre unit sales stabilised amongst ETRMA members during Q3 2014
Unit sales for tyre makers belonging to the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association were stable in on-road segments during the third quarter of 2014, while the agricultural segment experienced a year-on-year decline. Unit sales of passenger car tyres increased 1.4 per cent to 58,409,000 pieces, a development the ETRMA attributes to a growth in new car registrations. Commercial vehicle tyre unit sales remained relatively flat, declining only 0.23 per cent to 2,552,000 pieces, while two-wheeler tyre sales were up 0.90 per cent to 1,797,000 units. The only area of the market where ETRMA members saw major movement was in the agricultural segment, and this was movement of the unwelcome variety, as unit sales dropped 8.97 per cent to 386,000 pieces.
NFDA comments on August car sales increase
Following the SMMT’s publication of new car registration figures for August 2014, the National Franchised Dealers Association has predicted that September, and the newly introduced 64-plate, will bring further increases.
30th consecutive month of growth in UK car registrations – SMMT
Traditionally a fallow month ahead of the introduction of new plates, August has continued the trend of new car registration growth in the UK. Announcing the figures, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that 72,163 new cars were registered in August, a 9.4 per cent rise on August 2013 and the 30th consecutive month of growth. Anticipation is now growing for September, usually a far busier month on the back of the plate change.
Pumping up
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.
