Bridgestone: 2012 sales will reach 43 billion

Comprehensive foreign reports, Bridgestone Corporation claimed that due to the growth in demand in China, India and Brazil, Bridgestone's 2012 sales may reach 43 billion US dollars, its operating profit of up to 3.44 billion US dollars, higher than the expected profit in 2010 8%.

Bridgestone will invest US$296 million to expand its two factories in Fukuoka and Saga, Japan to increase the capacity of giant engineering tires. The expansion project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2013. After the expansion, the production capacity in Fukuoka will increase from the current 30 tons to 130 tons.

In addition, Bridgestone currently invests 2 billion yen to expand its steel cord factory capacity in Japan.

Bridgestone expects that by 2015, the industry’s overall demand will increase by 15% from 2009, and its tire sales will increase by 40% from 2009.