Tires: four months late and price increases of up to 80%

Users of high-end cars, or non-massive models, know it: today having a replacement cover has become a headache. In some cases, it does not even reach the willingness to pay supplements that double the “market” value that existed months ago.

The report of a consultant Keys Competitor information puts the numbers on the situation: the delays in obtaining some tire sizes are already reaching four months. For what is only a part of the vehicles, the same situation that has occurred in the last two years is repeated for buyers of zero-kilometer vehicles.

The consequence of this particular shortage has its correlate in prices. According to the Claves report, you upload them in the past year reach 80% on average. In some specific products, such as high-end imported products with few units sold in the country, there is no certain deadline for obtaining a replacement. At least, “by law”, as stated in the report.

“This generates in many cases smuggling and speculation with the purchase of tires in neighboring countries“, Claves says.” In the sector of companies specializing in the sale of tires they warn that, in the last year, stocks have run outto such an extent that today there are measures that are practically not achieved, with substitute delays that They can last up to three to four months“.

Why are the covers missing? With a combination: al general restriction on importsdue to the lack of dollars in the central bank, he adds the prolonged measure of the strength of the Union of tires (SUTNA), which it already has 120 days.

There are three roofing factories in Argentina: Pirelliwith factory in Merlo, Flint (Lavallol) e destiny (San Ferdinando). Among the three, some are produced in normal times 500,000 units per month. 40% is acquired by the terminals and 60% is covered for the replacement market and also for export. One of the destinations where it is mostly exported is United States of America (47%), followed by Brazil (45%), according to Claves.

But the conflict between the factories and SUTNA is already hitting the market hard. as estimated Javier Madanes Quintanilla, owner of the Fate factory (and also of the aluminum manufacturer Aluar), due to the conflict between 1.3 and 1.4 million covers were no longer produced. With the potential to produce 2 million covers in four months, the factories only shipped 700,000 or lessaccording to the businessman.

Added to this internal “restriction” is the squeeze on imports, which affects the automotive industry as a whole.

“The factories they are also looking for coverage in the aftermarket. They are ordering full shipments from Asia, but it will take months. What is happening is very serious, “an auto parts dealer, a key supplier to two of the pickup factories located in the country, told Clarín.

According to Claves, retail tire sales have grown by 17.1% in 2021 and close to 21% so far in 2022 “although the trade union situation and the import issue would affect the forecast for the end of the year”.

And due to the lower local production, moreover, a unexpected problem of the trade balance. The three local factories usually export and this partially compensates for the gap in a historically deficit sector. Now, that trade gap could rise to “macro” levels: “So far this yearThe deficit is expected to increase to between $ 400 and $ 500 million“, Estimated keys.