The tire manufacturer Continental is expecting a decline in business for the current year. On Wednesday, the company projected revenues between 17.3 and 18.9 billion euros, compared to group sales of 19.7 billion euros in the previous year. However, the profit margin is expected to improve to between 11 and 12.5 percent, up from 10.3 percent in 2025. The company attributed this to strong growth in the premium tire segment for sizes 18 inches and above, likely lower raw material prices, and a forecasted recovery in industrial markets starting from the second half of the year. Chief Financial Officer Roland Welzbacher pointed out, however, that tariffs and negative currency effects had weighed on results in 2025. "These challenges will not disappear this year, either," he said.

In 2025, adjusted operating profit fell by eight percent to 2 billion euros, with net profit amounting to 1.1 billion euros. The dividend is to be increased by 20 cents to 2.70 euros per share, while employees are set to receive a medium double-digit million amount as a profit-sharing bonus. The tire business remained stable, with Continental benefiting from the fact that many new vehicles are now equipped with larger tires of 18 inches and above, which now account for 62 percent of the business. The ContiTech division, which is up for sale, lagged behind expectations. The division's sales shrank by six percent to 6.0 billion euros, and the adjusted operating profit margin dropped by 0.8 percentage points to 5.3 percent.

(Report by Christina Amann, edited by Myria Mildenberger. For inquiries, please contact our editorial team at Berlin.Newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economy) or Frankfurt.Newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets)