European trucks on Asian tires: EU imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese tires

The European Commission has finalized an anti-dumping investigation, imposing substantial duties on Chinese tire imports. Effective July 8, 2026, tariffs will range from 4.3% to 45.3%. The commission determined that these tires were being sold in the EU market at unfairly low, dumped prices, causing significant damage to the European tire industry.

This decision comes as Asian manufacturers, particularly from Thailand and Vietnam, increasingly dominate the European market for truck and bus tires. In the first five months of the year, these two countries accounted for nearly 61% of imports, a significant rise from previous years. While Chinese tire imports also grew by 9%, their overall market share declined.

European tire manufacturers are struggling, with their share of the passenger car tire market dropping from 71% in 2018 to 59.6% in 2025. Similarly, their share in the truck and bus tire market fell from 72% to 60.8% during the same period. The Tyres Europe organization is advocating for tires to be recognized as a strategic component and for the European Commission to develop a definition for locally produced tires to help EU manufacturers regain market share.

European carriers are increasingly opting for cheaper imported tires, driven by rising costs for premium brands. A new premium tire can cost up to 2700 Polish zloty, with prices increasing 10-15% in the past year. Budget tires, while cheaper at 900 Polish zloty, have also seen similar price hikes. The shift towards Asian imports highlights a broader trend of European industries facing intense competition from Asian manufacturers.