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.
On 14 December, Tyrepress.com shared information from sources who anticipate a Yokohama Rubber bid to acquire Trelleborg Wheel Systems. While the parties involved have neither confirmed nor denied such a transaction, the chairman of Titan International Inc. (TWI) has commented on a deal he apparently views as problematic.
Titan International reports achieving in Q3 2021 its strongest third-quarter results since 2013. Net sales for the three months to 30 September were up 47.8 per cent year-on-year, to US$450.4 million, and the gross margin rose more than three percentage points, to 13.4 per cent on the back of gross profit amounting to $60.3 million.
Titan International, Inc., manufacturer of the Goodyear Farm Tires range, has become a member of the broad-market Russell 3000 Index, effective after the US market opened on 28 June. Global index provider FTSE Russell added Titan as part of the 2021 Russell indexes reconstitution.
Titan International, Inc. has appointed Laura K. Thompson to its Board of Directors, effective 1 April. Ms Thompson has also been appointed to serve on the Board’s Audit, Nomination, and Compensation Committees.
Goodyear Farm Tires has released a new tyre for compact tractors, a product it says will be “suitable for any job on the farm.” With the UK and European launch of the R14, Goodyear Farm Tires offers a hybrid of agricultural, turf and industrial tread patterns and both radial and cross-ply constructions. The R14 range covers a total of 17 different sizes.
Titan International has completed the sale of its tyre manufacturing plant in Brownsville, Texas facility to an affiliate of commercial real estate firm Phoenix Investors. The one million square feet plant was built in 1997 on 108 acres, and Titan ended tyre production in 2003. It has since leased the site to multiple tenants.
Voltyre-Prom; Titan International
Trelleborg