The European Union announced definitive measures on the Chinese tire antidumping investigation July 7, for passenger car, bus and light truck tires.

The investigation, first launched May 20, 2025, following a complaint lodged on April 7, 2025, by the Coalition Against Unfair Tyre Imports, covered the period Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2024.

The investigation showed that Chinese imports into the EU rose by over 35 million pieces, leading Chinese exporters to increase their market share from 18% to 28% during that period, while the European market share fell from 60% to 53%, according to the July 7 announcement.

"Prices of dumped Chinese imports significantly undercut Union industry prices during the investigation period," the European Union said, with the average undercutting margin being calculated at 19% and reached 34.7% for tire 3 or "budget" tires.

This regulation will come into force on the day after publication of the duties, July 8, no retroactive duties will be applied.

The European tire market's demand decline amid competitive Chinese imports has weighed on regional rubber demand.

Purchasing activity in the European synthetic rubber market has stagnated over the past month as market participants prepare for seasonal slowdowns and work through previously purchased inventories. Spot material was bulk bought in March and April, following the start of the conflict in Iran.

As a result, market participants do not anticipate any pickup in activity until mid-August at the earliest.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, last assessed free-delivered Northwest Europe ESBR 1500-1502 dry-grade spot prices at Eur2,300/metric ton on July 3, down Eur100/mt week over week.

Source: SPGlobal