According to the recent ETRMA report, the overall performance of the tire industry in 2017 is generally stable with the exception of agricultural tire sales, which performed badly for the fourth year in a row. In the last quarter of 2017, only consumer tires showed a positive variation.
OE truck tire sales increased 7 percent to 6.1 million from 5.7 million. This compares with a slight dip in replacement truck tire sales, to 9.73 million from 9.76 million.
Replacement agricultural tire sales fell 10 percent to 1.28 million from 1.43 million, according to the association, which provided no information regarding OE agricultural tire sales.
Replacement consumer tire sales declined 1 percent, to 204.8 million from 206.7 million, while OE consumer tires increased by the same percentage, to 86.8 million from 86.2 million.
Summer consumer tire sales dropped 4 percent, to 112.1 million from 116.3 million, the ETRMA said. Winter car tire sales rose 1 percent, to 57 million from 56.1 million.
Replacement motorcycle and scooter tire sales increased 2 percent, to 9.1 million from 8.9 million.
Agricultural tire imports to Europe increased 13 percent in the first 10 months of 2017, the ETRMA said. The greatest increase in imports came from China and India, with the latter country now holding almost 40 percent of agricultural tire imports to Europe.
Read the full report here.