MRF more than quadruples quarter profit
MRF Ltd says its net profit increased 352 per cent year-on-year in the quarter ending 30 June 2012. The Indian tyre maker says it posted a net profit of Rs.1,445.6 million (£16.6 million) in the three-month period, up from Rs. 319.5 million in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. Net sales rose 16.6 per cent to Rs 30,118.9 million (£346.3 million) during the same period. Operating profit margin increased from 5.9 per cent to 10.7 per cent year-on-year.
Continue ReadingTitan’s Planet Group acquisition finalised
US off-road tyre and wheel specialist Titan International has closed on the purchase of Perth, Australia-based Planet Corporation Group. Titan acquired 56 per cent of Planet for US$22.9 million and paid-off the Australian firm’s outstanding credit facilities of $10.5 million at closing.
Continue ReadingHankook sales, profits up in second quarter
Hankook Tire reports higher revenues and operating profit for the second quarter of 2012. The Korean tyre maker’s revenues rose 18.5 per cent year-on-year to KRW 1.84 trillion (£1.03 billion) in the three months to 30 June and operating profit jumped 112.1 per cent to KRW 215.5 billion (£121.15 million).
Continue ReadingGoodyear Q2 net income up despite lower sales and operating income
Although overall sales, volumes and operating income all decreased year-on-year, Goodyear Tire & Rubber nevertheless managed to increase its revenue per tyre in the second quarter of 2012. The US tyre maker reports sales of $5.2 billion during the three months to 30 June, eight per cent lower than in the second quarter of 2011 and reflecting weaker economic conditions and unfavourable foreign currency translation. Operating income decreased $46 million year-on-year to $336 million. Tyre unit volumes totalled 39.2 million in the quarter, down nine per cent from 2011 and reflecting weaker replacement sector volumes, most notably in Europe. Revenue per tyre increased eight per cent, while net income amounted to $85 million (33 cents per share), up from $40 million (16 cents per share) in the 2011 quarter.
Continue ReadingQ2 sales, operating profit a record for Titan International
Alongside news of its all-share offer for Titan Europe, Titan International reported record second quarter sales and operating profit. Sales during the three months to 30 June were, at US$459.2 million, 14 per cent higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2011. Gross profit increased 28 per cent to $82.1 million, or 17.9 per cent of net sales. Second quarter income from operations was $81.0 million, up 82 per cent compared with last year’s second quarter result of $44.4 million. Adjusted net income for the second quarter was $28.8 million, compared to $23.7 million in the second quarter of last year.
Continue ReadingMichelin profitability grows in H1
Even though its sales only increased 5.95 per cent during the first half of the current financial year, Michelin has managed to boost its net income a healthy 37.2 per cent during the period. The French tyre maker’s net sales in the six months to June 30 amounted to 10.71 billion euros, up from 10.11 billion a year earlier. From this total, 5.5 billion euros was generated from the sale and distribution of passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres, 3.27 billion from truck tyres, and 1.9 billion from specialty businesses. Operating income (before non-reoccurring items) rose 35.9 per cent per cent to 1.32 billion euros and operating margin grew from 9.6 per cent to 12.3 per cent. Net income for the period increased from 971 million euros in the first half of 2011 to 1.42 billion euros during the reporting period.
Continue ReadingSailun confirms Jinyu and Shenyang double acquisition
Following earlier reports suggesting Sailun Company Ltd had bought two other Chinese tyre firms, Sailun representatives have confirmed that the Chinese tyre manufacturer has entered into a “framework agreement” to acquire equity in both Shandong Jinyu Industrial Co. Ltd and Shenyang Peace Radial Tyre Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The framework was agreed on 10 July 2012.
Continue ReadingConti, SK Innovations battery JV a ‘strong team’ for future mobility
Yesterday, Korean firm SK Innovation and Germany’s Continental signed an agreement to create a jointly managed company. SK Innovation and Conti will respectively hold 51 per cent and 49 per cent shareholdings in this joint venture, which is being set up with the goal of mutually developing, producing and globally marketing lithium-ion battery systems for cars. This agreement comes half a year after the two companies signed a letter of intent.
Continue ReadingSaab Parts UK to launch national brokerage service
Saab Parts UK hopes to ensure a consistent supply of used Saabs on forecourts following the 2011 demise of the company by launching a new national broker service for their pricing and placement on 1 August, 2012. The facility for Saab trade enquiries will be administered by a dedicated and highly experienced Saab used car expert based at Saab Parts UK’s HQ in Cranfield. The parts company’s move into vehicle brokerage is inspired by the 188,000 Saabs on UK roads.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg declares Q2 a ‘strong quarter’
Trelleborg president and CEO Peter Nilsson has reported a “strong quarter” for the Swedish company. During the second quarter of 2012 the firm’s sales rose slightly to SEK 5.66 billion (£520 million) while operating profit increased 34 per cent to SEK 875 million (£80 million). Net profit amounted to SEK 712 million (£65 million).
Continue ReadingWeak summer tyre sales drag Delticom revenues down
Traditionally, financial news from Delticom has centred on unprecedented growth and increased revenues. Not so today. The European online tyre retailer has issued a statement outlining preliminary figures for the first half of 2012, and for once the news isn’t as good as anticipated. Against what the company refers to as a “backdrop of weak summer tyre markets,” Delticom took in revenues of 193.3 million euros in the first half of 2012, a 2.5 per cent year-on-year decrease. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to 13.2 million euros, down 30.9 per cent from the 19.1 million euro EBIT in the first half of last year.
Continue ReadingNew car registrations on the rise, at least in the UK
Passenger car registrations increased slightly during the first six months of this year, reports the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The organisation, which represents the interests of eighteen European vehicle manufacturers, says UK registrations were up 2.7 per cent year-on-year to 1,057,680 units, growth that bucked the Europe-wide decline. A 6.8 per cent decrease in passenger car registrations was recorded in the EU27 and EFTA region, with 6,644,829 units registered.
Continue ReadingČGS reports growth in all Mitas segments during 2011
In ČGS Holding’s freshly-published 2011 annual report, the Czech Republic-based parent company of tyre maker Mitas a.s. reported its tyre division “successfully continued in its strategy to become a leading global producer of off-road tyres, significantly increased sales and launched major investment projects.”
Continue ReadingTranslogik supplies tyre inspection tools for new 'communicating' tyres
Something virtually all the tyre manufacturers currently using RFID (Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Mesnac) have in common is a connection with UK-based sensor firm Transense Technologies plc. Following the announcement that this provider of sensor systems is supplying the tyre probes being used in Michelin's recently launched “communicating tyres” fitted to buses running during the London 2012 Olympics, it is worth taking a closer look at is both companies’ desire to see the wider market adopt this technology.
Continue ReadingNexen Tire aims for top ten
Korea’s longest-established tyre maker, Nexen Tire, recently opened its latest factory, a highly automated plant that will help the tyre maker reach its goal of almost tripling output by the end of the decade. The Changnyeong plant entered production in April and this year it will turn out some three million passenger car, 4x4 and light commercial vehicle tyres. This figure will then rise significantly over the next few years, reaching 21 million – 60,000 tyres a day – by 2018. By that date, Nexen says it will have invested a total of 1,200 billion won (£650 million) in the plant.
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