Financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2019

First-quarter 2019: In difficult markets, Michelin announces sales of €5.8 billion, an increase of 9.3% at constant exchange rates, led by a robust price-mix and a strong contribution from newly acquired businesses. 2019 guidance confirmed.

  • A resilient performance by the Group in difficult markets, with volumes down by just 0.5% in the first quarter:
    • Passenger car and Light truck tires: market share maintained in an environment deeply impacted by declining Original Equipment demand and slightly declining replacement markets in Europe.
    • Truck tires: volume growth remained firm in slightly contracting markets, as expected, partly thanks to the development of new service offers and solutions.
    • Specialty tires: 2019 growth ambitions confirmed, despite a first quarter impacted by supply chain issues in mining tires and the focus on margins in Original Equipment for Off-Road businesses.
  • A robust 2.0% price-mix effect, still led by disciplined price management, supported by the powerful MICHELIN brand and the sustained product mix enrichment.
  • A strong contribution from the newly acquired businesses (Fenner and Camso) with their integration proceeding according to plan.
  • Acquisition of Multistrada, a major Indonesian tire manufacturer.
  • A favorable currency effect (2.0%).
In difficult markets, we once again demonstrated the resilience afforded by our Group’s exposure to different economic sectors, allowing us to confirm our 2019 guidance. First-quarter sales also reflect the major contribution of our recent acquisitions, Camso and Fenner.

Jean-Dominique Senard, Chief Executive Officer

2019 guidance confirmed

In 2019, the Passenger Car and Light Truck tire markets are expected to be mixed, with modest growth in the Replacement segment and a contraction in the Original Equipment segment. The Truck tire markets look set to contract slightly, while the Mining, Aircraft and Two-Wheel tire markets should remain dynamic. Based on April 2019 exchange rates, the currency effect is expected to have a relatively favorable impact on segment operating income. The impact of raw materials costs is currently estimated at around a negative €100 million, mainly affecting first-half results.

In this environment, Michelin confirms its 2019 targets of volume growth in line with global market trends, segment operating income exceeding the 2018 figure at constant exchange rates and before the estimated €150 million contribution from Camso and Fenner, and structural free cash flow of more than €1.45 billion*.

* Of which €150 million from the application of IFRS 16.

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