Goodyear Increases Chinese Sourcing to $800 million

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, will increase buying in China to a tenth of its global sourcing by 2010 from just 1 per cent now. That could boost sourcing in China to about $800 million within the next five years, chief executive Robert Keegan told Reuters, as the firm, which carries a heavy debt load, strives to lower costs.

“We purchase about $8 billion of both raw materials and other products and services…10 per cent would be $800 million, so it’s a considerable increase for us,” Mr Keegan said. The American firm is racing against rivals Michelin and Bridgestone Corp to supply China’s $6 billion tyre market, which state media has said is half controlled by foreign companies and grew about 30 per cent to some 239 million units in 2004.

Keegan said the firm would invest $120 million to double the capacity of its factory in the northern port city of Dalian to 5.3 million tyres annually. The expansion is expected to be completed by early 2007, he said.