Signs of Timid Recovery in European Car Tyre Market, Truck Market Depressed

ETRMA, the European tyre manufacturers association, has released market data detailing the stop-start nature of most European tyre markets in 2009. According to ETRMA, “the tyre industry has mixed feelings for the year 2009,” diplomatically summing up what was an atrocious year for some and a tough but stable slog for others.

The data shows that the contraction of passenger car tyre sales was smaller in 2009 than in 2008, however OE tyre sales recorded a -18 per cent decrease. The good news is that during the last quarter of 2009 a small but constant increase was reported for both markets.

“We shall see if the upcoming months will confirm whether the tendency that we have witnessed in the last couple of months will continue or was it only a short correction of the market,” ETRMA secretary Fazilet Cinaralp commented. The total European passenger car tyre (replacement + OE sales) is said to have totalled 260 million units in 2009.

Looking at the major markets in 2009 only Germany, Italy, Austria and Poland increased their sales. However, volumes in these markets were still less than in 2007. Meanwhile in France, UK and Spain the markets maintained their sales or even reported small decreases.

Truck tyre market continued ‘seriously depressed’ in 2009

For all the green shoots of “timid growth” in the passenger car tyre segment, according to ETRMA, the truck tyre market continued to be “seriously depressed in 2009.” Replacement sales suffered a further -16 per cent decrease compared to 2008. OEM sales were -62 per cent lower than in 2008. Total European truck tyre sales (replacement plus OE) reached just 10 million units, -30 per cent down on 2008.