BRUSSELS (Oct. 16, 2013) — Replacement tire sales in Europe improved across the board in the third quarter of 2013, after very weak numbers in first half, according to the latest figures from the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA).
Because of the stronger market in the third quarter, tire shipments for the first nine months of 2013 are now nearly equal to the same period in 2012, the ETRMA said.
For the first nine months of 2013, replacement consumer tire sales stood at 148.8 million units, down 2 percent from 152 million in the same period in 2012, ETRMA said. Truck tire sales, however, were up 7 percent, to 6.48 million units from 6.07 million.
Agricultural and motorcycle tire sales were 1.35 million and 6.77 million units, respectively, both virtually unchanged from 2012, the ETRMA said.
"The European tire and rubber manufacturing industry remains a significant contributor to the European economy as a whole, even though 2012 was a particularly tough year for both sectors," the Brussels-based association said.