WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 24, 2004) — Tread rubber shipments this year are expected to grow 3.1 percent from last year, the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) said.
The 2004 shipments will produce about 16.8 million retreaded tires in the U.S., the association said.
The RMA cited an overall healthy economy and a revitalized manufacturing sector in its estimates. With help from positive freight trends, the growth is expected to continue though 2006 at an annual rate of 2.2 percent, it predicted.