Despite the challenging business environment such as slow economic growth, Hankook Tire managed to achieve widespread growth.
Hankook’s Sales Increase 11 Per Cent
Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) announced sales of KRW 2,263.4 billion and an operating profit of KRW 248.2 billion based on global consolidated financial results for the second quarter of 2023. Both sales and operating profit increased by 11 per cent and 41.6 per cent respectively year-over-year (YoY).
Despite the challenging business environment such as slow economic growth, Hankook Tire managed to achieve widespread growth. Through its global, top-tier technology and premium brand strategy, the company recorded robust selling of its electric vehicle (EV) tyres and high-value products, leading to increase in both sales and operating profit.
As vehicle production increased due to stable supply of automotive semiconductors, supply of Original Equipment Tire (OET) continued to expand globally. Also, in spite of reduced demand due to high distributor inventories in major markets, sales of replacement tires exceeded market demand. In addition, profitability improved due to stabilisation of raw material costs and freight rates.
In particular, the company’s sales portion of passenger car tires of 18 inches and higher – which are high-value products – rose 4.5 per cent p YoY, recording 43.6 per cent. Sales of replacement tyres and original equipment tires increased in the major markets, such as Europe, North America, and China, driving global growth.
In the second quarter, Hankook Tire launched ‘iON evo’ and ‘iON evo SUV’, finishing a full lineup of EV tyres – including all-season, summer, winter, and performance – in the Korean market. Hankook Tire also introduced ‘iON evo’ and the all-season tyre ‘iON ST AS’ in China – the world’s largest EV market – and further solidified Hankook Tire’s presence and competitiveness in the global market.
Though global economic uncertainty remains in the second half of the year, Hankook Tire plans to focus on pursuing qualitative growth, such as achieving sales increase of more than 5 per cent YoY and 45 per cent sales proportion for passenger car tires of 18 inches and higher. The company will also further develop more partnerships with leading global automakers and expand its presence in the EV market with the goal of reaching 20 per cent of original equipment tire supply for EV models among total supply of OE tyres for passenger cars and light trucks.
