The decline in the market for high horsepower tractors and combines in North America continues, and this ongoing trend has left a sizable dent in Titan International’s second quarter revenues. Sales for the three months to 30 June 2016 amounted to US$330.2 million, 12.2 per cent below sales for the previous year’s corresponding quarter and 44.3 per cent less than sales in the second quarter of 2013, prior to the start of the downturn. Gross profit for the quarter amounted to $45.1 million, 13.7 per cent of net sales, an 11.7 per cent year-on-year reduction and 48.0 per cent below the second quarter 2013 gross profit. The net loss applicable to common shareholders was -$3.8 million, compared with a net income of $9.4 million a year ago and net income of $23.2 million in the corresponding quarter of 2013.

The message to shareholders from Titan International chief executive and chairman Maurice Taylor is not one gladly heard: A 20.0 per cent year-on-year fall in sales during the first quarter of this year has been matched by an 11 per cent decline in sales volumes, a decrease in gross sales and an adjusted net loss of US$9.2 million.