WASHINGTON (Aug. 30)—The Rubber Manufacturers Association has revised upward its forecast for U.S. tire shipments this year, predicting they will exceed 2003 shipments by 4.1 percent based on the impact of "broad-based economic growth in the consumer and commercial sectors."
Overall, the RMA sees shipments of passenger and light, medium and heavy truck tires rising by 12.6 million units to nearly 323 million units, led by original equipment medium truck tires (up 32 percent) and replacement light truck tires (up 9.9 percent).
Shipments of OE passenger tires, on the other hand, are seen falling by more than 1 percent to 54 million units as domestic car production declines and light trucks and light truck-based vehicles claim larger shares of the market.
Beyond this year, the RMA projects annualized shipment growth of about 2 percent through 2009, reflecting improvements in the U.S. gross domestic product and Industrial Production Index.