Continental AG will cease production of agricultural tires and leave the agricultural tire market by the end of 2025, and instead focus its commercial specialty tires business on material handling tires, earthmover tires and tires for port operations.
Continental says the decision "follows a comprehensive business review.
"As the market for agricultural tires has undergone strong disruptions in recent years, Continental’s ambition is no longer compatible with the increasing commoditization of the market."
The company says the employees affected by the change are mostly stationed at its tire plant in Lousado, Portugal, and that most of those workers will be offered an alternative job within Continental.
“We are proud of the contributions we as a team have made to the agricultural industry and the trustful relationships we have built with our customers and partners,” says Paul Williams, head of Continental Commercial Specialty Tires. “Sharpening the focus of our Commercial Specialty Tires business will further leverage our resources towards our strengths in material handling, earthmoving and port operations tires.”
Continental says it will fufill all of its contractual obligations to agricultural tire customers through the end of 2025, which namely include products in its TractorMaster, Tractor70, Tractor85, CombineMaster and CompactMaster lines.
"The successful Multi-Purpose Tires lines will continue as part of Continental’s Commercial Specialty Tires Business."
