Yokohama Posts Sales Gain
Key Highlights
- Yokohama Rubber posted year-over-year sales and income gains
- Europe, India and Japan were "growth drivers" for the company
- Yokohama expects to achieve record high revenue for the full year
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. posted $1.9 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2026, up 10.4% versus the same period last year.
The Tokyo, Japan-based company generated $163.6 million in operating profit during the quarter, a 34.5% year-over-year jump.
Yokohama's tire business achieved $1.75 billion in sales during the first quarter of 2026, up from slightly more than $1.5 billion generated during the first three months of 2025.
Yokohama officials say Europe, Japan and India were "growth drivers" for the company, with its off-highway tire division enjoying double-digit year-over-year gains.
In North America
Yokohama's replacement tire sales in North America, excluding off-highway tires, amounted to 82% of first quarter 2025 totals, while original equipment tire sales in North America equaled 83% of what was generated in the region during the first three months of last year.
Subsidiary Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) closed its Salem, Va., consumer tire plant this past March. The facility, originally scheduled to close this summe, had the capacity to build 25,700 passenger tires and 1,100 light truck tires per day, according to MTD's 2026 Facts Issue.
Also in March. YTC added a new size, 445/50R22.5, to its 716 U wide-base tire for waste haul and other severe-service applications and showcased the tire at the TMC Show in Nashville, Tenn.
In April, YTC launched the new Yokohama Geolandar H/T4, a "durable, all-season highway tire for light trucks, SUVs and commercial vans," according to company officials. The tire is available in 62 sizes.
Last week, Yokohama announced that it will build new OTR tire plants in Mexico and India as it integrates production from Goodyear’s OTR business.
The two projects represent $245 million in planned investment and nearly 20,000 tons of annual production capacity. Both plants are scheduled to begin construction in the third quarter of 2026, with production expected to start in 2028.
Looking ahead
In its first quarter statement, Yokohama said it will accelerate investment in energy-efficient plant systems in response to the Iran War.
The company said its new consumer tire manufacturing plant in Mexico is scheduled to begin production in January 2027 and is "progressing as planned."
Yokohama expects to achieve around $8 billion in total revenue for the full year, which would be a record high for the firm.