WASHINGTON (Dec. 14, 2004) — Shipments of tread rubber this year are expected hit 2.3 percent ahead of last year's levels, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
The 2004 shipments will produce about 16.7 million retreaded tires in the U.S., the RMA said.
Steady economic demand should fuel a continued increase in tread rubber demand, the association said. The growth is expected to continue through 2007 at an annual rate of 1.9 percent.