Global Tyres: EU confirms tariffs on Chinese passenger vehicle tyres

Research evidence excerpt

Global Tyres: EU confirms tariffs on Chinese passenger vehicle tyres

7 July 2026

European Automobiles & Components

Global Tyres: EU confirms tariffs on Chinese passenger vehicle

tyres

Today the EU issued its long-awaited Definitive Measures from the antidumping Harry Martin, CFA

+44 20 7676 8965 investigatioon into Chinese tyres for the passenger vehicle industry. For producers other than

harry.martin@bernsteinsg.com Hankook this results in tariffs of 24-45% effective immediately, and is intended to reverse

the significant market share gains of low cost Chinese producers in Europe coinciding with

Stephen Reitman margin pressure for local producers. While the Commission’s report finds zero Chinese

+44 20 7762 5535

stephen.reitman@bernsteinsg.com import pressure into the Tier 1 segment, the tariffs could provide a small positive to our

premium-skewing tyre coverage in their lower priced brands. We are skeptical Chinese

Steve Pereira Fernandes, CFA imports have really impaired premium producer margins (which were pressured more by

+44 20 7676 7254 higher energy, labour & material costs over the period), and we will likely see the same

steve.pereira-fernandes@bernsteinsg.com Chinese producers address the European market from other low-cost manufacturing

locations as they did after the EU initiated similar measures in Truck & Bus tyres.

Gali Salvatorelli Naraghi

+44 20 7676 6741

gali.salvatorelli-naraghi@bernsteinsg.com The EU’s decision and data. The decision report shows that Chinese brands increased

volume market share in the EU market from 18% to 28% from 2020 to 2024. Other than

Specialist Sales Hankook which exports higher priced tyres from China, this almost entirely addressed

the Tier 3 segment with the average Chinese tyre import at ~€30 per tyre. Over this