European tire shipments lagged in 2022

BRUSSELS — Declining demand for replacement consumer tires in Europe in the second half of 2022 wiped out gains in the first half, leaving full-year shipments measurably behind 2021, according to the latest industry figures.

Overall, the replacement consumer tire (passenger and light commercial vehicle) segment fell 2.3% in 2022 to 225.8 million units, according to the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA). Shipments in the fourth quarter alone fell 13.5%.

While both summer and winter tire volumes fell 6% year-on-year, all-season tires posted a 6% increase over 2021, despite a 10% decline in the final quarter, the ETRMA noted in its latest market report.

By contrast, replacement shipments of truck/bus tires increased 0.7% to 13.7 million units, despite a 7.6% drop in the fourth quarter, the ETRMA data show.

"Last year was characterized by two contrasting half-year results for European tire manufacturers," ETRMA Secretary General Adam McCarthy said.

The industry reported a positive trend in the first six months for replacement consumer tires with 7.4% growth over 2021, while shipments of truck/bus tires grew by 10.3%.

However, McCarthy said, it turned into "a challenging second half of the year."

"There is no doubt the war in Ukraine, and the subsequent increase in energy prices and higher cost of living, have impacted the industry's replacement tire sales in 2022," he said.

Replacement market shipments of two-wheeler tires year sales showed a minor (0.3%) increase despite an 11% decline in the fourth quarter.

Demand for replacement farm tires registered by far the sharpest annual decline, dropping 22.1% from 2021 to 950,000 units. Sales in the fourth quarter alone fell 36.1%, the ETRMA said.

On the other hand, demand for original equipment (OE) tires was "more positive," the trade group said. OE passenger car tire sales grew 3.4% during 2022, although volumes remained 26% below the pre-Covid level of 2019.

The OE truck/bus tire segment posted growth of 4.7% over 2021, with volumes surpassing 2019 by 6.8%.

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.