Global Motorcycle Tire Demand Forecast to Grow 4% Annually Through 2022

Global demand for motorcycle tires is projected to rise 4.0% annually through 2022 to 704 million units valued at nearly $14 billion. Advances in motorcycle tire sales will outperform the global tire average as growth in the production and use of motorcycles outpaces that of motor vehicles. These and other trends are presented in Global Tires, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

The fastest increases in motorcycle tire sales will be in developing areas with warm climates where motorcycles more heavily compete with motor vehicles as the primary means of transportation, such as Central and South America and the Asia/Pacific region. In particular, the Asia/Pacific region will be responsible for 83% of all new demand in 2022, a reflection of the cultural affinity for motorcycles and the low cost of these vehicles, which makes them affordable to a greater share of the population.

Demand for all types of tires will increase over 3% per year through 2022 to 3.2 billion units. In value terms, sales of tires are projected to advance 4.9% per year, boosted by expected increases in raw material prices and the continued development of higher quality tires. Because tires are essential components of motor vehicles and other transportation equipment, two key factors affect growth:

• Rising incomes in developing nations increase purchases of motor vehicles and the need for OEM tires. A larger local vehicle park also increases the pool of potential replacement sales.
• Economic growth contributes to increases in average annual vehicle mileage and expedites the need for replacement tires.

Global Tires (published 09/2018, 297 pages) is available for $6000 from The Freedonia Group. For further details or to arrange an interview with the analyst, please contact Corinne Gangloff by phone 440.684.9600 or email [email protected].