Romania could reach sales of 8 million tyres per year

Representatives of Goodyear Dunlop Romania say the Romanian tyre market is significantly underdeveloped in terms of consumption per number of inhabitants, as the normal level is 8 million tyres per year, compared with 3 million at present.

“For instance Poland, whose population is 1.5 times higher than Romania’s, has a 3 times higher consumption. The Romanian market has the potential to reach 8 million units. Of course, every country is different,” said Thierry Villard, general manager of Goodyear Dunlop Central and Eastern Europe.

He added that the size of the national car fleet had a significant impact on the level of tyre sales on each market. Poland, a country with 38 million inhabitants, has 383 cars / 1,000 inhabitants. Romania, with a population of 22 million, has 164 cars / 1,000 inhabitants. Goodyear puts Romania’s tyre sales at 3 million units, down from the 2008 level.

“I expect a rebound in 2010, but it could be stronger in 2011, when demand will rebound in our industry. This will occur differently from country to country. Funds allocated by the IMF will help, but countries that have been hurt the most will see the strongest rebound,” Villard said.