Chinese tire makers, already the dominant players in the U.S. tire import/export arena, strengthened their position measurably last year, raising their exports of passenger and light truck tires to the U.S. 55.8 and 75.8 percent, respectively, over 2012.
China exports light truck tires shot up to 5.28 million units last year, contributing to a 17.6-percent jump in overall imports in this category, to 24.7 million units.
Canada remained the No. 1 source of light truck tire imports, at 9.51 million units, up slightly over 2012. Other nations to register double-digit gains in light truck tire shipments to the U.S. were South Korea (up 16.7 percent), Japan (up 31 percent), Chile (an eightfold increase), Indonesia (up 138.5 percent) and Taiwan (19.2 percent).