Thailand shipped the most consumer tire units to the United States during 2020, according to MTD’s 2021 Facts Issue, which provides a detailed look at the biggest exporters of passenger and light truck tires.
The south Asian country shipped an estimated 42.7 million consumer tires to the U.S. last year, down around 5% from 2019 levels. South Korea was next on the top consumer tire exporters list, having shipped an estimated 15.5 million units to the U.S. during 2020.
Mexico (15.2 million units), Indonesia (13.2 million units) and Vietnam (13.1 million units) rounded out the “top five."
Here’s a look at last year's 10 biggest consumer tire exporters and the volume they shipped, in millions:
Exporting country
2020
2019
% change
Thailand
42.7
45.0
-5.1%
South Korea
15.5
19.2
-19.2%
Mexico
15.2
15.9
-4.4%
Indonesia
13.2
14.5
-8.9%
Vietnam
13.1
12.1
+8.2%
Canada
12.2
15.9
-23.2%
Taiwan
9.6
9.1
+5.4%
Japan
8.2
10.7
-23.3%
Chile
4.1
6.0
-31.6%
China
2.8
3.3
-15.1%
*Source: MTD research
Will Thailand maintain its hold on the top exporters spot? Much of that will depend on the result of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s ongoing antidumping investigation of tire manufacturers and exporters from that country. (The investigation also includes South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.)
Of the four countries presently on the docket, only two - Vietnam and Taiwan - showed gains, 2020 versus 2019.
Vietnam boosted its overall consumer tire exports to the U.S. by 8.2%. Taiwan increased its number of exported consumer tires to the U.S. by 5.4%. (By comparison, China exported slightly less than three million consumer tires to the U.S. in 2020. Consumer tire shipments from China to the U.S. peaked at 60.5 million units during 2014.)
MTD’s 2021 Facts Issue also includes a deep dive into the number of passenger and medium truck tires exported to the U.S. during 2020, plus exclusive information about domestic passenger, light truck and medium truck tire shipments and market share; sales; distribution; tire pricing and sizing; mergers and acquisitions; North America tire plant capacities; and more.
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