Rubber machinery makers robust under pressure

London - Given the market pressures that emerged during the year – international trade disputes, a cool-down in some tire markets and Brexit among them – the international tire & rubber machinery sector delivered quite a robust performance in 2018.

Figures from the 39 companies that completed the survey both this year and last year, show a sales total of $4,077.2 million, just 0.8% lower than a year ago.

On the other hand, 2018 brought an abrupt halt to the previous year’s bounce-back, when a similar like-for-like comparison in the survey recorded a 15.5% year-on-year increase in sales.

There was a more settled look to the ranking by sales of the major tire & rubber machinery manufacturers after some jostling for top position over recent years.

HF Group emerged as clear leader, helped by 15.5% year-on-year growth in sales of tire & rubber machinery to $462.3 million for 2018.

This helped put some clear water between HF and closest rival VMI, which grew sales by 1.8% to $402.5 million.

At MESNAC, sales of tire & rubber machinery grew by 6.0% to $274.1 million, while Kobe Steel reported growth of over 5% to $206.0 million.