Titan International, Inc. has reported record turnover and profitability during the 2022 financial year. While the US-based manufacturer of OTR tyres and wheels increased its net sales by 21.9% to US$2.2 billion, income from operations jumped by more than 141% to $205.8, almost doubling the return on sales to 9.5%.
In its most recent quarterly report, US-based off-highway tyre manufacturer Titan International, Inc. reports owning 64.3% of Russian tyre maker Voltyre-Prom, with the Russian Direct Investment Fund the remaining shareholder. Yet this connection with Russia hasn’t stopped Titan raising its voice against indirect imports of Russian petroleum products into the USA. Together with the United Steelworkers union, Titan has even sent a letter to Joe Biden.
Off-highway segment specialist Titan International, Inc. has appointed Alpha IR Group its new investor relations advisor. In this capacity, Alpha IR will support Titan and its investor relations activities as well as broaden awareness of Titan within the financial community.
Although the USA is “heading fast toward recession” and inflation “continues to be a problem,” Titan International chairman Morry Taylor expects that some companies “will not be affected by the Big R in a big way.” Demand for large equipment continues to outstrip supply and Taylor anticipates farmers turning a profit. Against this backdrop, Titan expects Q3 2022 revenue of approximately US$540 million.
Commenting on the “best ever” second quarter that Titan International, Inc. (TWI) reported this year, Morry Taylor has congratulated company president and chief executive officer Paul Reitz and his team on an “outstanding job.” He credits the team with results so good that “the Board of Directors expected that TWI stock would rise, instead of the 16 per cent drop that happened.” TWI has declined in value from US$16.29 per share on 25 August to $12.64 yesterday.
Titan International has evolved the agricultural tyre technology seen in Increased Flexion (IF) and Very High Flexion (VF) tyres and has combining this with conventional tyre construction to create what it says is a “universal solution” for tyre replacements. It is introducing this Ultimate Flex Technology (UFT) at the Farm Progress 2022 show in the USA next week.
Taking stock of recent business at Titan International, Inc. (Titan or TWI), chairman of the board Morry Taylor opined that the company’s future is “the best it’s ever been.” He credits this happy situation to a number of global trends.
Although Russian tyre maker Voltyre-Prom recently spoke of potential opportunities arising from the war in Ukraine and related international implications, majority shareholder Titan International confirms it will not be investing in this business any time soon. Details of Titan’s relationship with the Russian operation were set out in the US-based firm’s 10-Q financial report for Q1 2022 and further commented on during a teleconference held on 3 May.
While other tyre makers are distancing themselves from Russia and moving production capacities elsewhere at present, Titan International Inc.’s subsidiary in Volzhsky, Volgograd Oblast has announced plans to increase its production volumes. Voltyre-Prom, which is majority owned and managed by the Illinois, USA-based off-highway tyre specialist, states that the current situation “opens up new opportunities” for it to increase production volumes and sales.
Titan International, Inc. has entered into a three-year agreement to supply various CNH Industrial production sites with agricultural tyres and wheels manufactured at its plants in Europe and the Americas. This supply contract to the manufacturer of the Case IH, New Holland and Steyr agricultural machinery brands is valued at approximately US$400 million, assuming current exchange rates and raw material pricing levels.
OTR tyre specialist Titan International, which owns the Voltyre-Prom tyre manufacturing operation in Russia, is bracing itself for “the potential impact of bans, sanction programs, and boycotts…” due to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine. However, deep in the detail of Titan’s strong fourth-quarter 2021 reports which were published today (3 March 2022), executives affirm that “the impact of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not had a significant impact on global operations”.
Titan International, Inc. has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kubota Canada Limited, the Japanese agricultural machinery company’s businesses in North America. The agreement will see Titan Trac Loader II tyres fitted in selected sizes on Kubota products. These tyres will be branded with both the Titan and Kubota names on the sidewall.
What a difference a month makes. Titan International shares are trading 49 per cent higher now than they were before Christmas. The difference? The news that competitor Trelleborg is in talks with “external parties” relating to the sale of its Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) industrial/OTR tyre business and subsequent market comments publish by Titan chairman Morry Taylor.
Following our coverage of Yokohama’s offer for Trelleborg Wheel Systems, the tyre and wheel manufacturer’s Swedish parent company Trelleborg AB has confirmed that “external parties have shown interest to acquire Trelleborg’s business area Trelleborg Wheel Systems”. At the same time, Titan International offered its view on third-party interest in Trelleborg Wheel Systems.
Voltyre-Prom; Titan International
Trelleborg