European tyre sales continue severe decline

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels -- ETRMA figures show that European tyre sales in May declined for the 14th consecutive month. From January this year, sales of truck tyres have dropped by 32%, while sales of passenger car tyres decreased by 8 percent, and agricultural tyres by 15 percent, compared to the same period of 2008.

The decrease if truck tyre sales -- down by 24 percent in May, to just over 600 000 units, continues the strong deterioration of tyre demand in Europe and also in other global markets. All European markets are affected: France (-18.5 percent), Germany (- 32 percent), Italy (-14.5 percent), Spain (-14.5 percent) but also in Eastern Europe: Slovakia (-48 percent) and Romania (-22 percent).

Passenger car tyre sales fell by 9 percent in May compared to the same moth a year ago, to around 12 million units. France (up by 12 percent) and Italy (up by 5 percent) saw increases compared to a year ago, thanks to government incentives, but the UK (down 26 percent) and Germany (down 22 percent) both fell.

The agricultural tyre sector was initially less affected than the consumer and industrial tyre sectors. The seasonal decline over the Winter months was worse than normal, and the expected Spring recovery has been muted, at best, with sales for the first five months of the year down by 15 percent across Europe. In May, European sales amounted to about 160 000 units, dpwn by around 20 percent from over 200 000 units sold in both 2008 and 2007. The most affected markets are: Finland (-46 percent), France (-29 percent), Germany (-30 percent), Italy (-16 percent), NL (-39 percent) and Spain (-19 percent).

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Press release from ETRMA