Global Top 75 tires released in China 29 finalists

In this newsletter, “European Rubber Magazine” recently released the 2011 annual list of 75 global tires. Bridgestone has surpassed Michelin and Goodyear for three consecutive years and continues to lead the world tire industry. China's 29 companies were short-listed, including 24 in mainland China, with 4 companies among the top 20; and 5 in China.

The ranking of the top 11 global tires among the top 11 companies this year has not changed. The top four are Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear and Germany. Among them, Bridgestone owns 44% of the ownership of the Brisa/Bridgestone-Sabachi tires (37th place, sales of 651 million U.S. dollars) (2011 ranking, the same below) and Finnish Nokia Tires (20th place) , sales of 1.26 billion US dollars) 19% of the shares, once again topped the list. The 5th to 10th places ranked Pirelli in Italy, Sumitomo in Japan, Yokohama in Japan, Hankook in South Korea, Cooper in the United States, and Taiwan New Rubber in Taiwan. Giti Tire owns 49% of Indonesia's PT Corp. (26th place, sales of 988 million U.S. dollars) and ranks 15th with sales of 2.21 billion U.S. dollars.

The sales of the top 10 tire manufacturers for the first time in 2010 exceeded US$100 billion, an increase of 17% compared to 2009. At the same time, 25 of the tire manufacturers listed in 2010 entered the $1 billion club, an increase of 6 over the previous year.

In 2010, major tire companies in the world also successively merged and acquired. With the implementation of the Pirelli agreement in Russia, Pirelli expects sales to increase by US$715 million in 2014. This will allow Russian Sibur tyres and Amtel Povolzhye tyres to fade from the rankings in the coming years. The Pirelli agreement also includes a new joint venture with Nizhnekamskshina (ranked 30th, sales of $768.7 million). U.S. Titan International acquired Goodyear's agricultural tire business in South America and Europe. The acquisition will bring about 400 million U.S. dollars in annual sales and accelerate the company's entry into the 1 billion U.S. dollar club. At the same time, if European mergers and acquisitions are completed, Goodyear will at least reduce annual sales of 500 million U.S. dollars.

Japan’s Toyo Tyre acquired Malaysia’s Silverstone tires and holds majority stakes in Shandong Yinshi Luhe Rubber Tyre Co., Ltd., which will bring annual sales of more than US$250 million to Dongyang Tire. Continental Tire acquired Indian Modi Rubber Co., Ltd., and Modi's sales in 2010 were approximately US$78 million.

This year's new ranking of the top 75 global tires are: Shandong Sangong Tire Co., Ltd. (42nd place, sales of 429 million US dollars), Ukraine J. S. C Rosava (70th, sales of 106 million U.S. dollars), Xinjiang Kunlun Tire Co., Ltd. (72nd place, sales of 90.3 million U.S. dollars), India Modi Rubber Products Co., Ltd. (74th place, sales of 78 million U.S. dollars).

Among the global tires 75, a total of 25 countries and regions, including 24 from mainland China, 5 in China, 5 in India, 4 in the United States, 4 in Japan, 3 in Russia, 3 in Korea, 3 in Italy, 2 in Indonesia, 2 in Thailand and 2 in Turkey.

Companies that have exited the rankings include: Iran Dena Tire & Rubber (ranked 67th last year), India Ralson Tire (74th place last year) and US GPX International Tire Company.

Tire companies have gradually emerged from the predicament of the economic crisis in 2009, and the profitability situation has rebounded strongly. The average revenue/sales ratio of the top ten tire manufacturers doubled to 8.1%, while the net profit/sales ratio increased tenfold, an increase of 3.3% from 2009. In 2010, the global tire market gradually recovered, growing by nearly 20% annually, and total sales amounted to US$ 152 billion.

In the first half of 2011, the world tire industry continued to grow and it is expected that operating income will increase by 25%. Through the analysis of the growth trend of the global tire industry in the first half of 2011, it is expected that the club of 1 billion US dollars will increase at least 3-4 members in the next year.

By convention, the 2011 Global Top 75 tires ranking is based on the company's 2010 sales income related to tire manufacturing.