Investment Rating - The report indicates a stable overall demand in the tire industry, with a stronger support in the semi-steel replacement market, and suggests that leading companies with overseas production capacity are likely to see continued revenue growth [4]. Core Viewpoints - The global tire market demand is expected to grow by 2% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reaching 918 million units, with semi-steel tires growing by 2% to 812 million units and full steel tires increasing by 1% to 106 million units [1][12]. - China's tire export growth is slowing, with passenger car tire exports remaining flat at 172 million units and truck tire exports increasing by 2% to 63 million units in the first half of 2025 [1][27]. - The U.S. market shows strong import demand, with passenger car tire imports increasing by 3% to 84.91 million units and truck tire imports rising by 12% to 32.65 million units in the first half of 2025 [1][45]. Summary by Sections Industry Review: Demand Support and Slowing Export Growth - Global tire demand is slightly increasing, with the semi-steel replacement market showing stronger support [12]. - China's passenger car tire exports are stable, while truck tire exports are growing [27]. - The U.S. continues to rely heavily on tire imports, with significant contributions from Southeast Asian countries [45]. Sector Analysis: Revenue Growth and Profitability Decline - The tire sector achieved total revenue of 55.6 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, a 10% increase year-on-year, but net profit fell by 30% to 4 billion yuan [2][61]. - The overall sales gross margin decreased by 5.2 percentage points to 18.4%, and the net profit margin declined by 4.1 percentage points to 7.5% [2][65]. Company Performance: Notable Divergence in Results - Leading domestic tire companies are expected to continue increasing their market share, with SaiLun Tire's revenue growing by 16% to 17.6 billion yuan, despite a 14.9% decline in net profit [3]. - Companies with overseas production bases are showing stronger operational resilience, while many foreign tire companies are announcing factory closures and production cuts [3][4]. Globalization of Leading Tire Companies - Leading tire companies are expanding their global presence, with new production bases in Indonesia and Mexico, and ongoing projects in Egypt and Serbia [3][4]. - The report highlights that domestic tire companies are seizing opportunities to capture global market share amid the closure of foreign competitors [4]. Future Outlook and Investment Recommendations - The report anticipates a recovery in profitability as tariff impacts are gradually absorbed and raw material prices decline [4]. - The potential for price increases in the EU market due to anti-dumping investigations is noted, which could benefit companies with flexible order management [4].

Summary of Tire Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The global tire demand is expected to grow by 1.8% in 2024, reaching 1.85 billion units, with the replacement market showing resilience, particularly in the semi-steel tire segment which is projected to grow by 3.5% [1][2] - China's passenger car tire exports have significantly increased, but rising raw material costs have put pressure on industry profitability, which is expected to recover after a decline in raw material prices in Q2 [1][2] Key Companies - Leading companies with overseas production bases and capacity expansion, such as Sailun Tire, are showing strong operational resilience, with Sailun reporting a year-on-year net profit increase in Q1 2025 [1][3] - Other notable companies include Senking, Linglong, and General Tire, which are also worth monitoring [1][3] - Sailun Tire is the only listed tire company to achieve positive growth in both revenue and profit in Q1 2025, with a total revenue of 8.4 billion and a net profit of 1.04 billion [4][17] Market Dynamics - The semi-steel tire operating rate has reached a historical high, maintaining around 80% since March 2024, while the full-steel tire operating rate remains weak, fluctuating below 60% [8][9] - The core export market for passenger car tires is Europe, while truck and bus tires are primarily exported to Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America [10][11] Import and Export Trends - Despite the U.S. implementing import restrictions, there remains a high dependency on imports, particularly from Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, which account for 40-50% of tire imports [11][12] - In 2024, China's passenger car tire exports increased by 13% to 35 million units, while truck tire exports saw a slight increase of 2% to 12.7 million units [10] Profitability and Financial Performance - The tire industry is experiencing a decline in profitability, with Q1 2025 net profits down by 26% despite a 10% increase in revenue [12][15] - The rubber sector is expected to see revenue and net profit growth in 2024, but Q1 2025 profitability is under pressure due to rising raw material costs and shipping fee fluctuations [14][15] Future Trends - Many overseas tire companies are planning to close production capacities, which may allow domestic tire companies to continue capturing global market share [5][24] - The domestic tire market is facing a downward trend in profitability, but companies with higher overseas business ratios, like Sailun, are performing better [20] Trade Policy Impacts - The U.S. has announced a 25% tariff on all imported auto parts, significantly impacting passenger cars and light trucks, while maintaining a 10% rate for other truck products [25] - The European Union is set to initiate anti-dumping investigations against Chinese passenger cars and light trucks, but companies with flexible overseas production bases, such as Sailun and Linglong, are expected to mitigate risks effectively [25]