The increase was driven primarily from Titan’s acquisition of Goodyear’s ag tire business and Continental’s Bryan, Ohio, OTR plant.
Gross profit for 2006 came in at $72.8 million for 2006, compared to $64.2 million in the year prior, but net income for 2006 came in at $5.1 million, down from $11 million in 2005.
“Due to a nearly 15% decrease in the farm market in 2006, Titan is converting approximately one-third of production at our facility in Freeport, Ill., from farm to OTR tire production,” said Morry Taylor, Titan’s chairman and CEO. Titan’s three tire facilities in Freeport, Des Moines and Bryan began a process of realignment this past fourth quarter, and will continue this process through the second quarter of 2007. It is Titan’s goal to produce over $200 million in OTR tires in 2007. Titan is also moving ahead with new designs for OTR tires and wheels, which we believe will change the entire industry. The farm business is starting to grow, but it will be later in the year before Titan can say how strong it will be in 2007.”