Nexen Announces 2025 Financials
Nexen Tire achieved $2.1 billion in sales during 2025, “reflecting ongoing top-line growth despite an uncertain market environment.”
The Seoul, South Korea-based company also generated $117 million in operating profit last year.
"Sales growth was mainly attributable to the second phase of the (company’s) European plant expansion, which reflects the company’s efforts to expand sales even with increasing business uncertainty due to factors such as the impact of U.S. tariffs,” say Nexen officials.
"In the original equipment (OE) segment, Nexen Tire maintained strong growth by supplying a diversified product lineup for both electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles to more than 30 global automakers, while in the replacement segment, the company achieved steady growth through region-specific product strategies."
Nexen officials note that U.S. tariffs “had a limited impact on profitability. Although trade policy uncertainties have affected demand, Nexen Tire minimized their impact on performance by diversifying its distribution channels for each region and selling more large-inch tires to improve its product mix. Efforts to improve cost efficiency - as well as the stabilization of raw material prices and ocean freight rates - also buoyed profitability."
In addition to launching new tires last year, Nexen "also laid a foundation for mid- to long-term growth by expanding OE partnerships with global automakers, including premium brands, and establishing new overseas sales bases to strengthen regional sales and distribution networks. These efforts led to external recognition of the company’s product competitiveness and quality."
2026 strategy
During 2026, the tiremaker plans "to proactively respond to the trade uncertainties that have arisen with the spread of shifts in global trade policies, while focusing on strengthening its sales capabilities and achieving quality growth based on the foundation it has built in development and production.
"To support this, the company will carry out sales-focused marketing activities to increase brand visibility and strengthen cooperation with customers, and will enhance (replacement) sales capabilities by building on the brand value of its premium OE products.
"Nexen Tire will pursue quality growth by improving its product and distribution mix," say company officials, with an effort to "drive product innovation through development that combines artificial intelligence and virtual technologies and to meet regional demand by supplying new products in a timely manner.
"At the same time, Nexen Tire will strengthen downstream distribution and develop strategic customer relationships in key markets to further enhance its sales foundation."
"Despite growing uncertainty in the global trade environment, we achieved a meaningful milestone," says John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, Nexen Tire's CEO. “We will continue to pursue both volume and quality growth by strengthening our product and distribution competitiveness in global markets."