The Cooper Tire plant run by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Tupelo is set to resume operations after being hit by a tornado in April. Production is set to begin in June.
In an announcement, the company stated that it expects sales to reduce by $20 million to $130 million. The operating income will fall by the same amount to $80 million in the second quarter of the year.
Cooper Tire has been paying salaries to all its 1,700 employees since the plant shut down in April. The company said that a significant amount of the property damages and losses will be catered for by insurance. These payments are, however, not indicated in projected losses in sales and income.
The Mississippi plant sustained damages to its roofing. Large sections were subjected to harsh rotating winds that covered about 115 miles southeast of Memphis. Cooper Tire released inventory on April 18 to reduce impact.
The plant is the second-largest facility in terms of production in Goodyear’s North American portfolio. It produces about 42,000 tires every day.