San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30

tire industry Win us 1870 prOuuctlOu
of 100000 castings and exports of
1,362,741, foreign manufacturers are
estimated to have produced S,52O,OOO
castings for motor cars and motorcycles
during 1923, and to have exported D.
275,0O0, or So per cent of them.
France was dependent on export mar
kets for the disposal of so per cent
of her production Italy nearly 70
per cent; Great Britain 21.5 per cent
Germany 36 per cent, and Canada
2S.6 per cent. In view of the fact
that foreign manufacturers are us
ing every effort to retain trade
which means so much to them, tire
prices in some export markets have
been reduced to levels even below
those in the United States. When 1t
is considered that American manu-
facturers have to meet the low prices
Of competitors in export markets and
in addition have often to pay greater
transportation charges and heavier
customs duties than competitors in
shipping TO the best markets, it is
surprising that the American exports
constituted so large n portion OF the
world export trade as was the case In
1923.
Two American Competitors.
French manufacturers are the CHIEF
competitors of Americans in the ex-
port tire trade. They sspplied approx
imately 80 per cent OF the total vol
ume of exports in 1923, with ship
ments Of about 100000 castings. The
dominating firm in the French export
trade, Michelin & Gle, exports from
both its home factory in Clermont-
Ferrand and its Italian factory at
Turin. American manufacturers ex-
port both from their United States
and Canadian factories. The Italian
and French tire exports combined
were about equal in volume to the
United States and Canadian exports
these four countries together account
ed for so per cent of the export tire
business in 1923.
Official trade statistics show ex-
ports of automobile castings from Ger
many in 1922 as 191, $40, and 251 1851
in 1923. The United Kingdom is Of
ficially reported to have exported
370,721 castings for motor cars and
72,4S1 castings for motorcycles in 1922.
For Great Britain in 1923, and for
other countries except Germany in
both 1922 and 1923, the estimates of
exports are based on official statistics
either of weight or value, which are
available for most of the countries. In
1922, the rubber division made an an
alysis of world trade in rubber tires
Of all kinds, but the estimates of world
trade in motor car and motorcycle cas-
ings given below are the first ever
published, so far rs is known.
Rasis of Estimates.
In estimating the 1923 production
Of castings for each country. considera.
ton was given to the registration OF
passenger cars and motorcycles as re-
ported by the automotive division of
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce, the number of tires import
ed, the number exported and the orig
inal equipment needs for locally pro-
duced automobiles and motorcycles.
For Canada, the production of auto
mobile castings in 1922 according to
the dominion bureau of statistics, was
1.4S2. 796. and of motorcycle castings
22,6S2. The only foreign country for
which 1923 statistics Of production for
motor vehicles are available is the
United Kingdom, where during the
year $1,000 passenger cars, $4,000
trucks, and $4,000 motorcycles were
production, according to a statement
furnished by the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders. Inc, of
Great Britain.
In estimating the 1923 production
capacity consideration was given to
the relative activity Of the tire indus
tries in the various countries, to the
general economic conditions in each
country, and to the seasonal nature of
the tire trade in Canada. A COMPARE
son of the estimated production AMI
the production capacity will show that
the French industry is estimated to
have produced at so per cent of ca
pacity in 1923, while British manu-
facturers were producing at approx
mately 81 per cent, etc. While it is
intended to show the relative activity
of the tire industries in the various
countries rather than the actual pro-
duction capacity, it is believed that
the estimates are conservative, and
that the production capacity of foreign
tire manufacturers would total at least
100000 tires per year.