The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has published a tyre sales report of its members for the year 2016 and the last quarter of 2016 (Table 1).
Despite minor fluctuations in the sales of consumer tyres in the third quarter, the segment showed a strong performance with a 4% increase in sales in the last quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015.
Consumer tyres, including tyres for passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles, showed positive year-end results, confirming an increase of 3% in 2016 sales compared to 2015.
OE consumer tyre sales, including sales in Turkey, followed the good performance of new car registrations (+6.8%), although the growth was more contained than last year.
The total 2016 sales for the truck tyre segment rose 3% in 2016, showing positive results for the fourth year in a row. Sales were particularly good in the fourth quarter of 2016, growing 7% compared to 2015 fourth quarter figures. The OE truck tyre market also grew, showing an increase of 11.7% for the first 11 months, in line with sales of commercial vehicles.
Sales of motorcycle and scooter tyres, despite a negative second half of the year, also showed a good performance, which resulted in a year-end growth of 4%.
Agricultural tyres sales continued to experience a consistently negative trend, dropping 6% in 2016 as compared to 2015 figures.
“All in all, the outcome of 2016 is in line with the expectations and normal for a mature market” said Fazilet Cinaralp, Secretary General of ETRMA, noted that the overall outcome for 2016 is in line with expectations and is normal for a mature market. However, she said that it is difficult to hope for a greater growth for 2017, given the continuous growth of imports.
Eurostat data is not yet complete for the whole of 2016. However, the results for the first 11 months of 2016 (Table 2) is sufficient to make a forecast (fc), which shows a consistent growth of tyre imports, particularly for passenger cars and truck tyres, dominated from China.
ETRMA also published the 2016 Statistics Booklet, which contains full data on the European rubber and tyre industry, including employment, production, trade and natural rubber consumption.
ETRMA’s members include the following tyre manufacturers: Apollo Vredestein, Bridgestone Europe, Brisa, Cooper Tires, Continental, Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe, Hankook, Marangoni, Michelin, Mitas, Nokian Tyres, Pirelli, and Trelleborg Wheel Systems. Furthermore, members include Associations in the following countries: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK.
The following annex of tables gives a breakdown per country of the tyre replacement trend sales for the past four years:
Replacement consumer tyre sales in Europe (ETRMA members)
Replacement consumer tyre sales in Europe (ETRMA members)
Replacement agricultural tyre sales in Europe (ETRMA members)
Replacement motorcycle tyre sales in Europe (ETRMA members)
