BM Catalysts has strengthened its European operation with the addition of Loris Rosario Brito to its export sales team. A native Italian, Brito is also highly proficient in English, Spanish and Portuguese. In his new role, he will build on the company’s reputation, taking responsibility for driving growth, and continuing to serve an established account portfolio.
Standard Motor Products Europe (SMPE) has announced that Martin Butterworth has been appointed as its new export sales manager.
Dongying Fangxing Rubber Co., Ltd. was founded in 2000 in Shandong Province’s Guangrao county. According to the company, Fangxing is one of the national top 100 companies in Shandong Province. The firm’s tyre factory covers an area of 600,000 square metres and has over 2000 employees, including 200 technical personnel. The firm describes itself as “a new enterprise specialising in tyre research and development, manufacture and sales -with 2 billion yuan of fixed assets”.
Reflecting on the Brexit news, prompts us to think about the part of the tyre trade the does business the most regularly on the continent – the wholesale sector. But first, let’s take a look at the car trade by way of a proxy. Following the Brexit nes, he National Franchised Dealers Association, which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, considered the impact on trading, with Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA saying:
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has approved Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ facilities in China and the USA. The FAA-14 CFR Part 145 approval means operators of US-registered commercial aircraft are able to fit the company’s products. The company has a global tyre distribution and retreading network, and is opening its first distribution and retreading facility in North America in order to support aircraft operators throughout the Americas.
Bremen, Germany automotive parts distributor Schmettau & Fuchs has been working with Klarius for the last 12 months to supply its emissions products across the north west of Germany. The German aftermarket’s requirements acknowledge the country’s reputation for high quality automotive production, making it an attractive proposition for the British manufacturer as a supplier of a wide range of high quality exhausts and emissions parts.
The 22nd Annual European Tyre Recycling Conference, which takes place at the NH Brussels du Grand Sablon, Brussels, between 25 and 27 March 2015, is billed as an event that offers the recycling sector an opportunity to come together to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
US trade organisation SEMA has been awarded part of a $2.2m federal grant to expand exports of automotive aftermarket products. The organisation, which represents the $33B automotive specialty equipment market, will seek growth in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and China, among others, giving its 6,800-plus members increased opportunity in foreign markets. The grant was awarded under the Market Development Cooperator programme within the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA). The body will assist SEMA with a new yearly fact-finding and sales mission to Russia; seeking regulations to allow US products equal market access by working with government officials; and organizing overseas vehicle measuring sessions in key emerging markets.
According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the manufacture of cars in the UK picked up pace in March due to improving domestic and export sales. UK car production rose 12 per cent during the month to 142,158 units, bringing 2014 to-date growth to 2.9 per cent. Production of cars intended for sale in the UK increased 18.2 per cent year-on-year to 33,221 units, although the year to date production count of 86,505 units is still 4.1 per cent down on last year. Production of cars for export markets rose 10.3 per cent year-on-year to 108,947 units, while year to date figures are 5.0 per cent higher than during the corresponding period of 2013, at 318,298 units.
Newly-published third quarter results show a Stamford Tyres experienced slight decline in turnover and a marked year-on-year drop in profits during the period. In the three months ending 31 January 2014, the Singapore-based company’s revenues decreased 2.94 per cent in the quarter to S$71.7 million (£34.0 million). Gross profit was down 2.35 per cent to $16.6 million (£7.9 million). Net profit fell 62.66 per cent to S$838,000 (£397,560).
Analysts are expecting growth in UK car output during 2014 and beyond as newly introduced models move to full-scale production. This all comes despite a 0.3 per cent dip in output during the January 2014 compared with January 2013. Exports are also said to be showing signs of recovery, with around 50 per cent of exports go to EU.
Toyo Tire & Rubber reports it has expanded its automotive operations in the Americas with the establishment of Toyo Automotive Parts De Mexico S.A. DE C.V. The subsidiary specialises in automotive anti-vibration products and began operation in January. The Japanese company says the opening of Toyo Automotive Parts De Mexico will enable it to bolster sales of automotive anti-vibration rubber products in the global market through the creation of an optimal supply structure in Mexico, a location it expects will continue to grow as a global production and export base for motor vehicles.
The latest batch of UK vehicle production statistics covering the month of November 2013 was released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) just before Christmas.
Singapore-based Stamford Tyres has posted a S$4.85 million (£2.36 million) profit in the second quarter of its current financial year, a marked contrast to the $2.97 million loss reported a year earlier. Revenue for the three months to 31 October 2013 amounted to $71.5 million (£34.8 million), down 12.1 per cent year-on-year. The company says the lower revenues are mainly attributable to weaker export sales of Sumo Firenza tyres and mining tyres.
The hybrid communist/capitalist system makes the Chinese political environment an odd one for those doing business inthe People’s Republic. As well as booming demand for imported brands (many of which are manufactured domestically), the strange combination of top-down legislative rule-issuing combined with crypto-relational give-and-take means success is as much about knowing the people and protocol as it is about having your numbers straight. So when the ruling communist party announced a string of apparent liberalisation measures, you can imagine why Chinese middle class and the businesses employing them (as well as courting their custom) inclined their ears.
