RMA predicts tread rubber shipments to rebound

WASHINGTON (Aug. 29)—The Rubber Manufacturers Association said it expects tread rubber shipments to rise markedly in the second half of the year after a sluggish first half. While giving no shipment or percentage figures, the association said tread rubber shipped in 2003 will be used to make 16 million retreads in the U.S., 500,000 less than it predicted in April. At that time the RMA had forecast 1.4 percent growth in demand for retreads for the year. In the new forecast, the association said tread rubber shipments through 2005 will benefit from a stronger economy and show an annual growth rate of 2.7 percent.