Lubricant and tire prices soar due to tariffs

April 18, 2025, 1:55 PM
4593
Guide
Highlights at a glance
Global trade tensions and rising tariffs are driving price increases across the tire and lubricant industries. Sumitomo Rubber North America will raise passenger and light truck tire prices by 25% and commercial/motorcycle tires by 10% in the U.S. and Canada starting May 1, 2025, to offset a 25% U.S. tariff on non-North American imported tires. This cost-passing strategy reflects broader industry trends. Major lubricant producers—including Shell, Castrol, ExxonMobil, Fuchs, PETRONAS, Lukoil, and Tianjin Sunsea—are also adjusting prices due to increased costs of imported raw materials like base oils and additives from the U.S. Despite supply chain optimizations and localized production efforts, companies acknowledge that some price hikes are unavoidable. Lukoil has already implemented a 3–5% increase effective April 1, while others plan gradual adjustments. With raw material costs surging and profit margins shrinking, both tire and lubricant manufacturers are prioritizing price increases to sustain operations. Market competition may temper short-term spikes, but long-term price declines appear unlikely amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
AI assistant