Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA

PAR:ML

Earnings Call Transcript 2021-Q3

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Michelin conference call. The conference call will be conducted by Mr. Yves Chapot, General Manager and Group CFO. You are able to download the presentation from Michelin Corporate website. I now hand over to Mr. Yves Chapot. Gentlemen, please go ahead.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm very pleased to host you for this 2021 third quarter conference call. So I will start by sharing with you the sales performance of the 9 first months of this year and particularly in the third quarter, and then we'll come back on the full year guidance. What has characterized in third quarter is a very turbulent environment, which is characterized of course, by the persistent health crisis, particularly in areas such as Southeast Asia, we have a very strong pandemic hikes during the summer. We are facing very severe disruptions across every supply chain. And of course, you have all been seeing what happened on the original equipment market with the macro conductor, the chips crisis have worsened over the past month and weeks. Inflation now is rising across the board through raw material first, logistic cost and no energy costs. And we are also facing worsening labor shortage, particularly in North America and to a lesser extent in Europe. In this context, the market, of course, and we already announced that the comparatives are less favorable for our businesses through this quarter compared to the first half of the year. The demand has very widely in the third quarter. Of course, in the original equipment market for automotive for passenger car -- the market fell down by 21% over the quarter, dragged down by the chip shortage, while at the same time, the replacement market was stable over the summer with already steady comparable sales market in 2020. The truck market -- truck tire market continued to expand outside China, raising by 7% over the quarter, but one in China, the market has been going down by 30%. And the demand in specialty markets remain robust, with a particularly strong rebound in original equipment in construction and agriculture tire segment. So in this context, the group has reported at the end of the 9 months, EUR 17.2 billion sales, which is a rise of 15.6%. And for the third quarter, sales of EUR 6 billion. So the 15.6% growth year-on-year, year-to-date are explained by 14.8% growth in tire volume of which 1.3 in the third quarter. We have altogether gained from price increase of 2.8%, which have been designed to offset sharply rising costs. 1.3% from mix effect, reflecting both the gain in 18-inch and above for the SR1 segment and a favorable original and replacement mix within this segment within the Automotive division. A 5.8% increase in non-tire sales and a negative effect of currency exchange rate. But over the last quarter, this currency exchange rate effect was neutral. And in this context, despite, let's say, some worsening environment markets, the group maintained its guidance for 2021. So the sharp slowdown of OE PCLT market is weighting on demand. And in a environment that we believe is likely to be disrupted for a long time. If you remember well, at the end of the first half of the year, we have shared with you our prospects for both [ light car ], light truck tire market for the remaining part of the year in truck tire market, and we present to you a range of market evolution. You can observe that if in the passenger car payer market, the market was, let's say, within the range in July and August, it went below the range in September, reflecting the worsening situation in the original equipment market. On the other hand, the market -- the truck tire market outside China slightly overperformed our forecast during the summer. Regarding the environment, I think -- all what we are sharing now has been already disclosed at the end of July. I will maybe add one element, which was not present at the end of July, which is a sharp run-up in energy cost particularly in gas and with a strong increase of energy cost increase in Europe. Looking now at the market quarter-by-quarter. So for passenger car tire, you see minus 5% on Q3 and minus 5% versus year-to-date versus 2021. So looking at Q3, as I already explained, OE was down 21%, where replacement was stable and looking across the different regions, Europe and North America are posted a slight decrease, minus 4%, minus 6% when China probably also comparing with a very strong 2020 summer is posting a minus 14% market evolution. On the other hand, you see that the worldwide truck market is now at the end of September, back at its 2019 level with Q3 at minus 8%, but again, explained by a sharp decrease of the market in China, particularly the regional equipment. When Europe is stable, [ plus 2 ] slight growth. North America is posting a strong growth, plus 13% and is already 11% above 2019 comparable. In China, you see the huge range of market evolution between Q1, which was plus [ 72% ] in Q3, minus 30. Year-to-date, the market is at plus 1%. Specialties are running, let's say, very consistently with what we have announced previously with a sharp rebound in agriculture and construction, particularly in OE. Mining is also showing stronger prospects and the aircraft market is also increasing with the opening of the commutation between countries. So just to explain quickly the bridge of our sales between the first 9 months of 2020 and the first 9 months of 2021. Limited scope effect, volume plus 14.8%, which represent EUR 2.2 billion. Price and mix at 4.1%, of which 1.3% , so 2.8% is a price effect, which represents EUR 600 million. Non-tire activities are contributing for EUR 47 million at the end of the 9 months. And we still have a currency exchange rate negative you will see afterwards that this figure is stable over the second -- the third quarter. On the third quarter, so our sales have grown by 8.2%. The scope is slightly negative, minus 0.3%. Volume are slightly positive, 1.3%, and we have a very important price mix effect with 7%, nearly EUR 400 million, of which EUR 1.8 billion is explained by the mix and 5.2% by the price. It reflects, in fact, already the full effect of the 2 1st price increase that we have implemented since the beginning of the year, end of March, end of June and the beginning of the first -- third one that we have implemented between first of September and first of October, according to the business segment and the regions. Non-tire activities are also contributing positively and you see that over the quarter, the currency exchange rate was practically neutral. Breaking down this figure by business segment. So you observe that on the segment one, our sales grew by 18.9%, reflecting a strong growth in sales led by our pricing management, market share gains in 18-inch and above and a favorable OE and RT mix as OE has been impacted by the shortage of microchips. SR2 is also posting a very strong performance, plus 16.4% mostly led by our strong position in Europe and North America. Here also, very strong pricing management and a sustained expansion in our fleet management activities. SR3 at plus 8.4%. SR3 has been more resilient in 2020 facing the first month of the crisis than the 2 other segments. So on one hand, the market is driven by beyond road business, construction, agriculture, material handling, which is creative also a negative business mix within the segment. We have also the effect of a very strong price management, although -- some of these businesses have indexed through raw material clauses. But we are also probably the area where we are facing the most the turmoil in the supply chain given the fact that mining and beyond road businesses are exposed to a lot of shipping both for upstream and of course, downstream businesses, which are -- where we are encountering a lot of, let's say, operation challenge over the summer. So as far as the guidance is concerned, I will start with our market scenario for the 3 segments. So first, regarding the automotive segment. We have slightly lowered our forecast -- our market forecast versus those that we shared with you at the end of July. We estimate that the market should evolve over the full year between 8% -- between 6% and 8%. Our previous market assumptions was a range between 8% and 10%. It's mostly the consistence of the original equipment supply chain challenges that is weighting on demand, knowing that across the board, we consider that in most of the regions, our distributors have no -- for replacement, have no rebuild their inventory to a level which is very close to the normative, but that demand seems very steady in our key markets. On the truck market, our forecast now is a market which will be between 6% and 8% worldwide. But if we exclude China between 11% and 13% when our previous forecast was more a market between 9% and 11% outside China and here we consider also the strong situation of the original equipment market. In some regions, we know that OEMs are now starting to accept orders for trucks for -- that is going to be delivered in 2023. So we don't consider that all the supply chain given also the challenge that everyone is facing is running at full speed. And in the replacement market, global demand outside China remained very strong with a freight activity, which is also very strong, and we are now entering into a season where the freight is at its peak before the end of the year. Specialties, we have slightly lowered down the market assumptions from [ 10% to 12% ] at the end of July to between 9% and 11%. Mining tires, the demand remained robust, but we are encountering a lot of supply chain disruptions particularly due to the shipments as our factories are based in Europe and North America, and we are serving markets that are scattered all over the world with a strong mix in Australia, South Africa, South America. Off-the-road tire demand will be very strong as well as 2 wheels. And we are also seeing the aircraft tire market growing demand from weak comparative. So based on these assumptions, so our market -- our scenario is that we should -- our volume should land slightly above the market, given the fact that we have been able to gain market share in some key strategic market segments. We are also expecting a net price/mix raw material effect, which would be positive, including in the second half, but you have to take into account that this price and mix effect should cover not only the raw material cost increase, but also the other element of inflation, data, logistics and energy costs, which will be strongly negative over the year. The currency effect, if we consider that the last quarter should be, let's say, close to neutral should remain negative as it was at the end of the first half. So in this context, we have decided to maintain our guidance, which is a segment operating income at constant exchange rate, which will be above EUR 2.8 billion, and structural free cash flow, which would be also above EUR 1 billion. So having shared with you this element, I just take this opportunity to remind you that Michelin has launched the second generation of this all-season tire during the last months and weeks, which is CrossClimate 2, which was the product which has really created this all season market in Europe. And I'm now opening the Q&A session.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions]The first question comes from Tom Narayan from RBC.

[Gautam Narayan, Assistant Vice President]

Tom Narayan, RBC. My first one is on the 2021 outlook and apologies if I missed this. But how are you able to maintain the guidance despite lowering the market outlook? And if possible, could you give us the breakout within SR1 in the outlook of the 6% to 8% between OEM and replacement? And next question, SR1 posted a very strong mix again in Q3, up 5.2%. The ratio of replacement to OE is obviously helping here understandably when OE returns back to normal levels, this could normalize. Just wondering why you couldn't shift or increase production into the replacement market more permanently. In other words, what is the benefit of being as big as you are in the OEM market?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Okay. So thank you, Tom. So first, we are able to maintain our guidance because we have -- of course, we are facing the drop of the original equipment market for automotive for the Automotive segment. But one of the strengths of the Michelin Group is balanced between different businesses that are generally not simultaneously opening to the same underlying trends. So you saw that we are rather optimistic outside China on the prospects of the truck tire market. We have also a strong position in SR1 on the replacement market and we have also a very strong position in Beyond Road and mining market. So it's the first element which help us to compensate the impact of the drop of the original equipment market. The second one is our ability -- our price discipline, our ability to pass through to the market. Most of the element of inflation, I'm saying most because you have to remember that we have 30% of our sales that are based on mid- or long-term contract, where we have raw material clauses adjustments, which are generally playing with some time lag. But overall, if you look at the at the figures that were in the bridge. When we are speaking about 4.1% price mix effect and 2.8 of price is EUR 420 million just on price past during the 9 first months, of which EUR 291 million in the third quarter. So that allow us to be able to cover the inflation that we are facing. Regarding the second part of your question, there is a few elements. First, more strategical standpoint. Our presence at original equipment is key because the original equipment market is also leading innovation. It's important that we have very strong long-term cooperation with some OEMs. We are able to anticipate on the new vehicle designs, evolution of OEM product overall that we cannot do if we were only replacement player. The second element between the management of the mix between OE and RT is that, of course, we can convert and that's what our teams have done very well during the 9 first months. We can convert some of these capacities to -- from OE to RT, but with a certain limit. The third element that I would also like to go to your attention is the fact that particularly during the 9 first months, we were probably -- we were needing not only to follow the demand in terms of replacement, but we are also facing -- we were facing distributors who needed strongly to rebuild their inventories. And we are probably now at the -- more or less at the end of this period, which explains why the mix, of course, is positive. It might return when original equipment will come back to, let's say, more favorable season. But this mix effect was very strong during the first 9 months.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Martino De Ambroggi from Equita SIM.

[Martino De Ambroggi, Analyst]

One more question on the price. So if you could elaborate on the split by division of your plus 5.2% in Q3 and for the time being, are you comfortable with your last price increase? Or you are planning any further price hike going forward? And if you are willing to disclose it, what was the range of the last price hike between September or end October?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

So we'll start by this last question, the overall range of the price hike between September or October was in average around 3% to 4%. And for your information, we don't disclose the mix and price effect by business segment. But what I can tell you is that the price effect was rather consistent across the different segments. Of course, in some segments, you have a little bit more OE, so a little bit more, let's say, a contracted business with raw material cost adjustments. But let's say, beside that our teams, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them. We're able to pass the price increase across the board. We are globally satisfied with our price increase. I'm not going to tell you if we are going to implement another one because the first who should be aware of that are our customers. But we believe that we are entering into a very volatile environment. The supply chain disruptions that can sometimes come from areas that we are not able to anticipate the -- for example, the sharp increase of the gas price over the summer in Europe is now impacting some of our raw material suppliers that are coming back to us to ask for price increase on their side. So we consider that we have now entered into an area where we should let's say, manage our price on a, let's say, rather dynamic way. It means that adjusting price from one quarter to another should not be an issue. We have -- our teams are [ organizing ] themselves to manage that with the right information system, the right way to capture what's going on in the market and we believe that we have entered into a very dynamic price environment and our agility will be key to succeed and to maintain our price positioning over time.

[Martino De Ambroggi, Analyst]

Okay. And the last question -- the second question is on the free cash flow guidance in excess of EUR 1 billion. Are you moving some of your underlying assumptions on CapEx, net working capital? Or it's all confirmed.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

It's -- yes, we are moving it. But let's say, the one is compensating the other. Of course, the raw material and energy prices that we are facing that are increasing our production costs are going to weight on our working capital. So part of our accounts receivable and inventory value at the end of the year will be let's say, pull by the increase in raw material prices and energy cost prices. On the other hand, supply chain is also impacting our ability to spend our CapEx plan and we'll probably understand by the end of the year, and let's say, one will more or less compensate the other. And I must insist on the disruption level that we are facing. Of course, as you follow the automotive industry, you are well aware of what is happening with the microchips but you have probably seen also that some other materials are starting to be in shortage. And we are sometimes surprised we have a huge number of crisis sales open within the company to manage on, let's say, shortage of some specific materials, including some that we just learned over the summer.

[Operator]

The next question comes from José Asumendi from JPMorgan.

[José Maria Asumendi, Head of the European Automotive Team]

A few questions, please. When we think about your 2023 targets or your midterm targets, it looks to me like you will have already achieved the targets in the second half of this year, if not this year. So are you thinking to -- as you close out the year, do you think it will be a possibility to revisit the midterm targets? That will be the first question, please.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Okay. José. So in the target that we shared for 2023, of course, there was operating margin rate and value. The rate is going to be probably penalized by the price increase because as we are increasing prices, it has a dilutive effect on the rate. So I don't believe that we'll have achieved our 2023 target during the second semester of 2021. As far as this long-term or midterm target is concerned, it's, of course, a milestone on our 2030 strategy, Michelin In Motion.And we will first, I think, at the end of the year or early in 2022, start to guide for 2022. And then during the, let's say, the course of 2022, we'll see if we have to modify our '23 targets. But for me, it's part too early to discuss about changing 2023 target.

[José Maria Asumendi, Head of the European Automotive Team]

Okay. And then 2 quick follow-ups, please. Can you talk a little bit about around the dynamics you're seeing within SR3? And do you consider that the historical 24% margin targets for SR3 could still be valid for Michelin.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Yes. So the dynamic -- the demand is here, but you have also to keep in mind that these markets are probably the ones that are except, of course, the 2-wheels business and the aircraft business, but they are probably the most cyclical within our portfolio and clearly, construction, agriculture and a very, let's say, a positive level in the cycle. Mining, we are also seeing the mining operator activity is well oriented with very strong customer demand. But at the same time, we are facing very strong operational challenge particularly on the maritime shipping and in some extent, some manufacturing challenge because we have a large part of our capacity, which is based in the U.S. where we are facing across the board difficulties to hire employees, let's say, all categories of the labor force, but particularly for the blue color. As far as, let's say, the operating margin is concerned, we have communicated a minimum rate of 17%. So I'm not going to bet on should we reach or not the 24% that we have reached in the past.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Victoria Greer from Morgan Stanley.

[Victoria Anne Greer, Vice President]

The first thing I wanted to ask you about was just explicitly about the price mix number that you could expect for Q4 very strong at plus 7% and can we see that accelerate further in Q4 bearing in mind the price increases that you've talked through already perhaps with a few mix changes? That's the first question. And the second thing, I think you made a bit of a comment in one of the previous questions that you think you're more or less at the end of the restock of dealer inventories in the replacement channel. Could you give us a bit more color on that by region, please?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Okay. So regarding the price/mix, of course, we should see an acceleration over the fourth quarter of the price part the mix, you know that in the mix, there is some components that we do not master. We try to master the favorable product mix. The market mix is not completely in our hands -- for the market, the mix between different businesses can also be impacted either positively or negatively. So we consider that this mix is not only completely in our hand. But -- so in the 7%, if you remember well, there is 5.2% coming from the price. So this one will be even stronger on the fourth quarter. But at the same time, you should have both raw material, energy and in some areas, labor costs that are increasing in logistic costs, of course, that are increasing sharply. So it shows you also the extent of the headwind that we are encountering on the price -- the cost of the goods that we are purchasing.

[Victoria Anne Greer, Vice President]

Okay. So price should accelerate in Q4 mix. Yes, as you thought all of that is in your hands.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Yes, because first, we have some, let's say, index business where we should have another set of raw material closes adjustment as of October 1. And as I said earlier, our third price increase was spread between first of September and the first of October. Regarding distribution inventories, well, we consider that the situation -- and the situation was already at normative level in Asia before the summer. In Europe, there was, let's say, a situation a little bit more contracted, but we can say that during the summer, most of the distributors average normative level. In U.S., there is, let's say, maybe some upside with some distributors, but overall, we are not too far from -- to have reached the global normative level for their inventory.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Gabriel Adler from Citi.

[Gabriel M. Adler, Assistant VP & Senior Associate]

Gabriel Adler from Citi. My first question is on the cost pressures that you're facing. In your guidance, you're now including custom duties logistics and energy alongside raw materials of cost headwinds. But you've also reiterated the price mix raw mats will be positive. So could you help us better interpret the changes here? And maybe comment on the magnitude of the positive impact you expect for net price mix raw mat for 2021? That's my first question.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Okay, Gabriel. So as we said, we should price mix raw material and all of the inflator should -- price and mix should allow us to cover all inflators impact. And I just want to draw your attention. I was mentioning earlier the magnitude of the price effect over the first 9 months, we are speaking about EUR 420 million, including EUR 290 million on the third quarter. So let you imagine the impact of both the raw material, the logistic cost and the energy costs that we are facing in our operations. We have always, in the past in this slide, we always mentioned raw material and custom duties, particularly because in 2019, '20, we have seen some countries implementing duties, either on finished product or on raw materials. And that's true that we have had this year, the notion of logistics and energy cost because the rise in energy and in logistic cost is particularly spectacular. And when mentioning energy costs, it's really an order of magnitude that we have not experimented in the past 7 to 8 years. We have to come back probably to the crisis in between [ 2007 and 2011 ] to see such an inflation on energy. In logistics, you all know that basically, the price of a container from Asia to North America, which was sold [ $3,000 ] before the COVID-19 crisis have jumped up to [ $20,000 ] after the crisis.

[Gabriel M. Adler, Assistant VP & Senior Associate]

Okay. So maybe are you willing to confirm that the net impact, the magnitude of the net impact that you expect now hasn't changed since your previous guidance?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

No. The magnitude of the net impact has not changed.

[Gabriel M. Adler, Assistant VP & Senior Associate]

Okay. Great. And then 2 quick follow-ups. One on volumes. Could you just confirm the downgrade to SR1 volumes? Is that wholly related to weak OE growth? Or are you also anticipating some softer replacement because of your comments around dealer inventory now having been rebuilt? And then my third question is on imports and just what impact we should expect maybe from import normalizing and what impact lower imports having right now on the pricing environment?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

So yes, regarding volume on SR1, I can confirm you that it's 100% due to the original equipment market. For the replacement, we are in the winter season where we are entering into the winter season, which is generally playing favorably on our volume, at least for the 2 first months of this quarter and of course, there is always an uncertainty about the impact of the weather on the season. But the main impact is, again, the original equipment market situation. Regarding imports, curiously, in some regions, we have, for example, -- and an important joint venture in North America in distribution, TBC, with a strong business of importing Tier 3 tires from Asia. Of course, they have faced a lot of headwind on the cost side, but they have been able to replenish their inventory and to serve their customers. So we don't see -- of course, we are seeing some disruptions. The business is not as smooth as it used to be because containers are delayed. Our own assessment is that today, you have only roughly 1/3 of the boats and the containers that are arriving at their estimated time of arrival in the port. So you imagine the consequence on the management of the customer demand, customer orders. We don't expect a drastic change regarding imports, let's say, both in -- if we look at our main market, both in North America and in Europe.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Giulio Pescatore from Exane.

[Giulio Arualdo Pescatore, Research Analyst]

The first one on plant utilization. Can you maybe comment on your current rates of utilization? And could that provide maybe a tailwind into next year as potentially over year covers?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

So plant utilization, we generally use the comparison, which is the first quarter of 2019 because if you remember well, 2019 was not completely a free ride as the market has also switched during the second half of the year. So overall, in terms of plant utilization, we were on the Q3 around 92% versus what I mentioned standard, which is first quarter of 2019. And it reflects, of course, all the difficulties that we are facing _43"18____into region to hire people to -- as you know, we are facing labor shortage in some important regions for us. So overall, we believe that we should stay in this range, knowing that practically, today, our factories are globally running at the maximum of what they can do with the workforce that is present in their premises.

[Giulio Arualdo Pescatore, Research Analyst]

Okay. And second one, a bit of maybe an exercise for next year. If we were to analyze the headwinds that you're seeing into H2 this year, if you think about energy, raw material and everything else, into next year. Do you think you're going to have enough price and mix potentially to offset this headwind? Or if the situation doesn't improve, then eventually, the equation is going to some negative.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Yes. So our policy is, as I said earlier, to systematic try to pass the impact of raw material, energy, logistics, any kind of inflators in our pricing. We stick for this policy for already a while with, I will say, some success. And we are definitively convinced that we should continue. Overall, we have been able in very strategic segments, such for example, 18 and above in the SR1 market, in the SR1 segment not only to increase our price, but at the same time to gain market share. So we believe that this policy that has been pretty successful if you look at the price effect in our bridge should continue.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Thomas Besson from Kepler Cheuvreux.

[Thomas Besson, Head of Automobile Sector]

I have a couple of questions, please. First, I'd like to make sure I understand the -- more simply what you're saying is, is a fair summary to say that you're going to reach your guidance despite slightly lower volumes because pricing is much stronger.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Yes, with slightly lower volume in SR1, but with a favorable mix effect and a strong price policy.

[Thomas Besson, Head of Automobile Sector]

Perfect. Could you confirm that you're also comfortable with current consensus expectations for 2021? Or is that beyond what you want to say today.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Comfortable. I don't know if it's the right word, but yes, we consider that the consensus, although the environment has worsened over the summer, we consider that we should be able to achieve what the consensus is today forecasting.

[Thomas Besson, Head of Automobile Sector]

Okay. When I look at the Q4 comps, is it reasonable to say that volumes were already tough last year. So maybe it's slightly easier even if the original equipment development seems to be the same in Q4 and Q3.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Yes, Q4 was pretty strong last year because don't forget that last year, in fact, the rebound -- the sharp rebound that was started in the Q3, exactly around mid-June 2020 has led to, let's say, the start of the issues regarding supply chain and the sharp decrease in the dealer's inventory and not only our dealer inventory, but also our inventories. So last year, the -- we cannot say that the Q4 was particularly low. It was already a very strong quarter. Maybe from a pure financial standpoint, slightly less attractive than the Q3. Because against Q3, we were, let's say, opening up our facilities and all the system was playing with a very low cost structure and at its maximum speed. But Q4 2020 was already a pretty good month. Good quarter.

[Thomas Besson, Head of Automobile Sector]

Okay. Last quick question, please. I don't think you've commented on the winter sale market and what you expect for cross climate too. Could you give us an idea of -- do you anticipate the winter tire market, including all-season, to grow this year? Where deliver inventories? How did it start so far?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Overall, in SR1 replacement, particularly in Europe, what you call the whole season, what we call the whole season market has grown sharply since we launched the cross climate in 2014. And it's the market -- the segment of the market that is growing at nearly double-digit rate for the past 5 years. And we consider that CrossClimate, too, is adding, let's say, it's an offer that will probably help us to further grow in this segment.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Philipp Koenig from Goldman Sachs.

[Philipp Koenig]

I have 2 questions on China, please. Firstly, could you please comment on the underlying replacement demand you're seeing in the region given that the data there has been a bit softer recently? And if that had any implications on your ability to increase the prices? And my second question is on your production in China and whether you've seen any impacts from the recent restrictions on power? Or are you seeing any impact on your supply chain in the region?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

So the challenge in China is, of course, the comparison between 2020 and 2021. It's particularly true for the -- it's also for the truck tire market but it's also true for the passenger car tire market, particularly the original equipment. So there was some softening during the summer in China. Keep in mind that inventory -- distributor inventory has been completely rebuilt during the Q2. So we did not have the effect that we had in -- during the previous quarter. But overall, if I look at the replacement market in China, for passenger car tire, it was roughly in Q3 2021 at the same level in Q3 2019. As far as our -- the impact on the power cuts -- of the power cuts on our facilities in China. So as you know, electricity quota has been implemented in 19 province among 30. We have 2 different situations in Liaoning province where our main facility is implemented, we were impacted by this quota. So our factory has to shut down some days at the end of September. Fortunately, they have been able to resume and for October, we had a minor impact. Our second factory, which is based in Shanghai, has not been impacted by the power cuts decisions.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Edoardo Spina from HSBC.

[Edoardo Spina, Analyst of Automotive Research]

The first is on capacity and CapEx. I understand that you mentioned that you're running your plants at a reduced capacity also because of bottlenecks in shipping. And I think you also mentioned that you do not expect an improvement in the foreseeable future. I wanted to ask how this will be impacting your capital investments, if you would like to increase capacity as a result of this? Or do you expect other competitors to do so? Or in fact, if you prefer to wait for I don't know, a few quarters or years for a normalization of the supply situation. And the second question is more on the truck market. If you could comment and compare the market a little bit a few years ago, especially in Europe, maybe 5 years ago or so, are you seeing a more consolidated, more disciplined market in the truck business, which is helping also your EBIT overall. Is it a function of raw materials, maybe import views? If you can comment a bit on that would be great.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

So Edoardo, regarding capacities short term, generally, we are in an industry where CapEx leads to capacity increase, but after a while. Because there is always a ramp-up timing. So you don't, let's say, increased capacity on the spot like that and as I mentioned, our capacity are today limited partially by the shipping situation but mostly by the labor shortage that we are facing and which is acute in particularly in North America. And of course, it has an impact. The global supply situation has an impact on our CapEx. That's why in our, let's say, free cash flow equation, we will probably spend less CapEx in 2021 that we expected at the beginning of the year, but we'll have to catch up in the years to come in order to compensate this delay in the implementation of some programs because for some equipment that we need to implement in our factories are leading macro conductors or sometimes some basic supply are missing. Regarding the truck market in Europe. Well, in 2019, first, there was the implementation of custom duties from -- tires coming from China. These custom duties are supposed to last until 2023, if I remember well. Some of the Chinese players that have a facility in Southeast Asia, in the meantime, redirect some of their sourcing to Europe through their Southeast Asian facilities, such as Vietnam, Thailand or mostly Vietnam and Thailand. Regarding price, I will not comment, let's say, our competitors' behavior. What we can say is that we have passed up to now a free price increase. It might be a bit early to qualify the third one. The 2 first one has been accepted by the market and most of our competitors have also increased their price more or less simultaneously.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Michael Jacks from Bank of America.

[Michael Shawn Jacks, Director and Head of SA Research & Industrials]

I know you've covered inflation and freight costs already, but it seems a large proportion of the inflation we've witnessed in various cost items has come towards the end of Q3. So my question is -- well, the first question is, is your guidance for a positive net price cost impact based on current prices in energy and freight markets? That's the first question. And linked to the second question, to what extent is Michelin exposed to freight contracts, which are yet to be negotiated to reflect the higher spot freight rates? And my final question is are you not worried about potential demand destruction if replacement tire market prices rise too much from the current levels?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Okay. So that's a lot of questions. First, what you have to understand is that we have roughly between raw materials, semi-finish and finished product around 4 months of inventory. So when you purchase raw material, for example, now, it's a raw material reach our factory in October. It will -- this material, this given material will be -- will impact our cost of goods sold in January next year. So you have also a delay between the moment to acquire raw material and when this material translate in the cost of the tires that we have produced and that you are selling. So that's why also there is this element, this lag effect, which impact although we have started to see the raw material price increase during the first quarter. But if you remember well, at the end of the first quarter, the raw material by themselves were not really not yet we are not feeling the increase in our P&L. But that's later that the phenomenon impacted our cost structure. So that's the first element of answer. The second element of answer is that we increased the price first of -- between 1st of September and 1st of October. Of course, based on the information that we had at the end of the summer and during the month of September. And we size the magnitude of this price increase in order to cover the inflation to come in our cost of goods sold. So we consider that is positive price/mix raw material should play, including during the fourth quarter. I'm sorry, I'm going to ask you to repeat your 2 other questions.

[Michael Shawn Jacks, Director and Head of SA Research & Industrials]

Sure. No problem. The second question is to what extent is Michelin exposed to freight contracts, which are even been appreciated to reflect higher spot rates. And then the last question is, are you worried at all about potential demand destruction if replacement tire prices continue to rise from these levels?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

So regarding shipping trade contracts, they are -- as we are an important player because we import a lot of containers of natural rubber, for example, from Southeast Asia to Europe or to North America. And simultaneously, we export a lot of tires from Europe or North America to the rest of the world. We have generally a yearly contract that we renegotiated let's say, between the end of the year and the first quarter, and that generally play from 1st of April or 1st of May. So for the current year, prices have been fixed. Of course, if we need to -- because we are either underestimated our needs or we are facing new needs. Sometimes we have to go on the spot market. And there, it's -- the prices are not the same. But most of our shipping costs are, let's say, frame within contract with a major shipping line. As far as the price impact on the demand, our market is a need-based market where both consumers and fleet are not buying tires for their pleasure. So when you have to replace your tires, particularly when you know that either you want to postpone the acquisition of a new -- a brand new vehicle or you cannot get a brand-new vehicle, which is the case nowadays with the scarcity of the OE market. This has, for the time being, a limited effect on the final -- our price, the limited effect on the final demand.

[Michael Shawn Jacks, Director and Head of SA Research & Industrials]

If I could maybe just slip in one follow-up to that. I mean just going back to the freight costs. I mean if we look at where spot rates are relative to contract rates, in some instances, it looks like spot rates are 2 to 3x higher than what prevailing contract rates are, which means there could be a potentially very sizable increase in contract rates going into next year. Are you able to give us some sort of indication of the quantum, how large it could potentially be either in terms of how many containers you move? Or what percentage of total costs freight contributes?

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

It's a significant -- I cannot disclose you the detail. And by the way, I don't have in mind the number of containers we moved, but we are shipping -- we are selling roughly 3.3 million tonnes of finished products. So we are purchasing equally the same quantity, more or less the same quantity of raw material, which gives you, let's say, the impact of the shipping on our P&L. So we are not speaking about a few millions, but we're speaking more about 100s of million. So I believe Michael was the last person to ask for questions.

[Operator]

Yes.

[Yves Chapot, Managing Partner, GM & CFO]

Yes. So thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for your attention. And we'll have our next, let's say, official communication will be early February with the full year results and the 2022 guidance. So in the meantime, I wish you all the best, and I'm sure that we'll be in contact with some of you in -- by the end of the year. Thank you very much, and thank you for your attention. Bye-bye.

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for your participation. You may now disconnect.