JATMA report shows marked Japanese recovery in 2010

Although the earthquake and tsunami in Japan earlier this year caused original equipment tyre sales to decline there, mid-2011 financial quarter results show aftermarket sector sales are continuing to improve, building on signs of recovering demand first seen – as figures recently published by the Japanese Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association show – in 2010. The association’s report, titled “Tyre Industry of Japan 2011”, reveals growth occurred in both the original equipment and aftermarket segments last year, the first time production in Japan has increased in the last three years.

During the course of 2010 JATMA members – Bridgestone Corporation, Sumitomo Rubber Industries – Yokohama Rubber, Toyo Tire & Rubber and Nihon Michelin Tire – manufactured 164.63 million tyres, a figure representing a year-on-year increase of 18.8 per cent. Production rose in all main product segments, with passenger car, light commercial and truck and bus tyre production increasing 19.6 per cent, 17.2 per cent and 18.6 per cent respectively to 125.46 million, 22.18 million and 11.21 million tyres.

Sales to OEM customers increased 21.3 per cent year-on-year to 49.21 million tyres, a figure that includes tyres made by non-JATMA manufacturers and sales of imported tyres produced by Japanese manufacturers. Passenger car tyre sales accounted for 40.99 million of these original equipment unit sales, an increase of 22.2 per cent, while 4.99 million light commercial vehicle tyres were sold, 16.3 per cent more than a year earlier, and original equipment truck and bus tyre sales jumped 54.6 per cent last year to 9.00 million tyres.

Replacement market sales in 2010 rose 8.5 per cent to 67.55 million units, and again this figure includes tyres produced by non-JATMA manufacturers and sales of imported tyres from Japanese manufacturers. Replacement passenger car tyre sales increased 8.8 per cent to 46.91 million tyres. Light commercial vehicle tyre and truck and bus tyre sales increased 6.8 per cent and 14.3 per cent respectively to 12.77 million and 4.63 million tyres.

Tyre exports from JATMA members increased 17.1 per cent year-on-year during 2010 to 68.47 million tyres. Passenger car, light commercial and truck and bus tyre exports increased 18.8 per cent, 10.5 per cent and 13.7 per cent respectively to 51.53 million, 8.12 million and 6.01 million units. During the year Europe received a total of 18.91 million Japanese produced tyres, 25.5 per cent more than in 2009.