Bridgestone to Increase Prices in Japan

Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it will raise prices on 1 February 2007 for tyres, tubes and flaps sold in the replacement market in Japan. Prices for winter tyres will be increased on 1 April 2007. Specific price increases include 5.5 per cent for passenger car and light truck tyres, 8 per cent for truck and bus tyres, 10 per cent for construction vehicle tyres, 5.5 per cent for motorcycle tyres (excluding certain products) and 8 per cent for other kinds of tyres, and for tubes and flaps (excluding those for motorcycles).

Bridgestone says it has endeavoured to offset the rises in raw material prices through the increased productivity and enhanced efficiencies that it is continuously implementing. But those rises have proven too large and persistent to absorb entirely through internal measures.