Tire shipments post strong results in March

WASHINGTON (June 12)—U.S. tire shipments showed no signs of slowing in March, posting strong overall gains in all categories except medium truck tires. Total U.S. shipments in March hit 32.8 million units, a 7.3-percent jump over the year-earlier month when shipments were 30.5 million. For the year-to-date, overall shipments grew 7.4 percent to 88.5 million units through March 2000 from 82.5 million units through the first three months of 1999, according to data gathered by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. In Canada, overall tire shipments hit 1.47 million units in March 2000, a 23.5-percent surge over March 1999. For the year, shipments leaped 9.5 percent to 3.57 million units from 3.26 million units through March 1999. On the downside, overall U.S. medium truck tires continued a 2000 slump by dropping 1.1 percent to 2.18 million units in March. For the year-to-date, overall shipments in the category are down 1.7 percent to 5.72 million units.