BRUSSELS — European replacement market tire demand dropped by double-digits in key categories, according to the latest data from the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA).
ETRMA Secretary General Adam McCarthy cited the effects of "ongoing high inflation in all European markets and the continued negative impact of the war in Ukraine, particularly on energy prices" for the declines.
Shipments of replacement passenger and medium truck tires fell 11.6% and 18.3%, respectively, to 54.6 million and 3 million units, the ETRMA data show.
Shipments of agricultural tires plunged 38.8% to 210,000 units, while shipments of two-wheeler tires were down by 2.9% to 3.46 million units.
The first-quarter decline follows declines chalked up on the fourth quarter of 2022, the ETRMA noted.
Compared with the first quarter of 2019 — i.e., pre-pandemic — truck and bus tire sales remained at the same level, but sales of replacement consumer tires were off by 4.5% versus that period.
Full-year 2022 replacement consumer tire (passenger and light commercial vehicle) shipments fell 2.3% to 225.8 million units, after shipments in the fourth quarter alone fell 13.5%.
The ETRMA has 14 tire-manufacturing companies among its members, whose corporate sales represent 70% of total global sales.
The ETRMA's data refer to markets in 35 European countries, stretching from Ireland in the West to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and the Baltics in the East plus Malta and Turkey.
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