The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced its business and financial results for the first half (January to June) of fiscal year 2019, which shows a decline in profit and sales revenue in that period.

Profit attributable to owners of parent declined 6.2% from the same period of the previous year, to 16.7 billion yen (about $157.3 million), on a 4.7% decline in operating profit, to 25.1 billion yen (about $236.5 million); a 27.5% decline in business profit, to 17.2 billion yen (about $162.08 million); and a 0.5% increase in sales revenue, to 311.1 billion yen (about $2.93 billion).

Sales revenue declined from the same period of the previous year in Yokohama’s tires segment, and business profit declined on account of a downturn in unit sales volume, an upturn in unit costs associated with reduced production volume and an increase in logistics costs.

Sales declined in the original equipment sector. The weakness in Japan reflected the impact of product changeovers for multiple vehicle models equipped with Yokohama tires, Yokohama says. Meanwhile, a Chinese downturn in unit vehicle production attributable to slowing economic growth weighed on Yokohama’s original equipment business overseas. Yokohama maintained sales in replacement tires at the level of the same period of the previous year. The company supported replacement business by promoting high-value-added products, such as tires marketed under its global flagship brand, Advan, and fuel-saving tires in the BluEarth series, and by deploying the strategies of its medium-term management plan, Grand Design 2020 (GD2020). Yokohama’s replacement business suffered from weak, warm-winter sales of winter tires in Japan, but business gained momentum in spring with solid sales of summer tires in Japan and with rising sales overseas, especially in North America.

In the MB (Multiple Business) segment, Yokohama’s sales revenue and business profit increased over the same period of the previous year. Sales increased in high-pressure hoses, reflecting strong Japanese demand in construction equipment and Yokohama’s success in winning new orders for automotive hoses in overseas markets. Sales also increased in industrial materials, led by continuing sales vigor in conveyor belts worldwide. Sales increased, too, in Hamatite-brand sealants and adhesives, driven by continuing strength in Japanese business in construction sealants, and in aircraft fixtures and components.

Sales revenue and business profit increased over the same period of the previous year in Yokohama’s ATG (Alliance Tire Group) segment. This segment comprises business in tires for agricultural machinery, for industrial machinery and for other off-highway applications.

Yokohama abides by the full-year fiscal projections for 2019 that it announced in May. Those projections call for profit attributable to owners of parent to total 46.0 billion yen (about $433.48 million) on operating profit of 65.0 billion yen (about $612.5 million), business profit of 57.5 billion yen (about $541.8 million), and sales revenue of 660.0 billion yen (about $6.22 billion).

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