WASHINGTON (March 28) — U.S. tread rubber shipments in 2006 will grow 2.8 percent because of economic growth, strong demand for off-the-road tires and truck traffic volume, the Rubber Manufacturers Association said.
The increase compares with 2005´s rise of 1.9 percent.
Continued strength in construction, increases in the number of trucks, expansion in the manufacturing sector and positive freight trends should sustain growth of 1.7 percent through 2008, the RMA said.
This year´s forecast will mark the fourth consecutive year that shipments will increase. That increase represents about 16.4 million retreaded tires in the U.S., according to the association.