European replacement tire sales increased, and tire performance soared again
Recently, the European Tire and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) released market data showing that in the fourth quarter of 2024, the European replacement tire market sales increased by 11.3% year-on-year to 60.7 million. All market segments performed positively.
Among them, passenger car tire sales increased by 12% year-on-year to 56.516 million; truck and bus tire shipments increased by 4% year-on-year to 2.882 million; agricultural tire shipments increased by 12% year-on-year to 152,000; motorcycle/scooter tire shipments increased by 18% year-on-year to 1.15 million.
From an annual perspective, compared with 2023, the sales changes of consumer tires in 2024 will become better, mainly due to the all-season tire field, but truck tires will still decline slightly.
In 2024, the sales changes of consumer tires are getting better and better, mainly due to the all-season market segment, but truck tires are still slightly negative. In both sectors, we are still far from pre-pandemic levels, at -3.5% and -10.3% respectively.
About ETRMA
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) represents 14 corporate members, whose global sales account for 70% of the global tire market, including 8 of the top 10 industry leaders.
Collectively, these manufacturers maintain a strong presence in the European Union (EU) and candidate countries with more than 80 production facilities and more than 20 R&D centers in several countries. Overall, the tire industry supports nearly 500,000 jobs in the EU.
Original Equipment Tire Market in 2024
The decline in original equipment tire sales in 2024 reflects the decline in car production across the region in an uncertain economic and political environment, as European automakers grapple with the challenges of electrification.
Light vehicle (passenger and light truck) production declines in 2024, followed by significant growth in 2023. Commercial vehicles decline even more sharply in 2024, after two years of growth. In this context, sales decline in the consumer, truck and bus segments.
Mobility trends in Europe
In Western Europe, mobility per capita was relatively stable until 2019. By the end of 2023, mobility demand had returned to its pre-pandemic average, but remained slightly below its 2019 high.
Mobility in Central Europe had grown strongly until 2019. The decline in 2020 was less pronounced than in Western Europe. Overall mobility remains slightly below its 2019 high.
The share of passenger-kilometers traveled by car in Western Europe fell slightly from 84% to 82% between 2004 and 2019, jumping sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, its share has fallen back to the same level as in 2019, although it remains above the previous trend.
In Central Europe, by contrast, the share of car travel rose sharply between 2004 and 2019, although the pace of growth slowed in the latter part of the period. The share rose again in 2020, fell sharply, and then fell back to the previous trend line.
EU27+UK Tire Imports
European (EU27 plus UK) passenger car and light truck (PCLT) tire imports rose for the first time by 17% in 11M2024, up 27% from the same period in 2019. Volumes from China rose by 17%.
Sales have increased by more than 50% year-on-year since 2019 (an increase of 38 million units). Imports from South Korea performed well in 2024, up 32% from 2023. India saw a further increase of 30% in 2024: from a low point, its imports have almost tripled since 2019. Japan and Thailand also saw a decline in PCLT tire imports and share during the same period.
The increase in imports is the result of a combination of supply and demand factors. European tire production costs have risen since 2019, compared with Asia, especially energy, labor and other inputs. At the same time, significant pressure on household budgets (from high inflation and interest rates) has led some consumers to turn to lower-cost imported tires.
TBR tire imports increased slightly
Truck and bus tire imports from outside Europe (EU27 + UK) increased by 3% year-on-year in the first eleven months of 2024; they were 23% higher than in the same period in 2019.
Thailand remains the main importer, although import volumes and import share fell in the period from January to March 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.
Vietnam's sales increased by more than 25% year-on-year since 2019, with both sales and absolute sales increasing by 1.1 million units in the same period. Vietnam is now clearly the second largest source; it has been well ahead of China, although the latter did grow and regain some share in 2024.
In contrast, South Korea and Japan lost share in 2024, with Egypt moving to fourth place among importers.
