BRUSSELS—European tire shipments were flat or slightly down in all categories in the third quarter of 2016, according to the latest figures from the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association.
Nine months results were mixed, down 6 percent in agricultural tires but up slightly in other areas, the ETRMA said.
Passenger tire shipments were up only 10,000 in the third quarter, to 57,333,000 from 57,323,000, according to the ETRMA. For the nine months, passenger shipments were up 1 percent, 159.9 million from 157.9 million.
Truck tire shipments decreased 3 percent in the third quarter, to 2.69 million from 2.76 million. For the nine months, truck tire shipments rose 1 percent to 7.23 million from 7.15 million, the association said.
Agricultural tire shipments fell 4 percent in the quarter to 354,000 from 368,000, according to the ETRMA. Nine month sales fell to 1.14 million from 1.22 million, it said.
Motorcycle and scooter tires virtually were unchanged for the quarter, at 1,806,000 compared with 1,807,000 for the previous year, the ETRMA said. Nine-month sales rose 5 percent to 7.91 million from 7.53 million, it said.
“The outlook for end-of-year results looks grimmer than it did after the first quarter, but a lot hangs on the results of October, usually one of the most telling months of the year,” said ETRMA Secretary General Fazilet Cinaralp in a news release.