April tire shipments plunge

WASHINGTON (July 6)—Total U.S. tire shipments fell significantly in April 2000 compared to April 1999, dragged down by weak results in all tire categories. Overall shipments fell 5 percent to 26.8 million units from 28.2 million units shipped in the year-earlier month. Year-to-date volumes still registered gains, climbing 4.2 percent to 115 million units from 111 million units in the first four months of 1999. Total shipments in Canada also dropped in April, plummeting 12.6 percent to 1.19 million units. For the year-to-date, total Canadian shipments were up 3 percent to 4.76 million units.