Status of Yokohama Rubber factories in Japan

Yokohama Rubber has provided information on the status of its factories in Japan following last Friday’s earthquake. Tyre production has been largely unaffected, with its Shinshiro, Mie and Onomichi factories operating as normal. The tyre maker comments that it is “addressing the issue of procurement of raw materials” for these plants. Operations at the company’s Mishima plant, where passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres are produced, was suspended following the earthquake. Yokohama has found no serious damage to buildings or equipment, and operations were partially resumed after it confirmation was given it was safe to do so. Yokohama says it is “now working to determine a schedule for returns to full operation.”

The only Yokohama Rubber factory to remain out of operation is its Ibaraki plant, 90 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, where rubber hoses and related materials are manufactured. Yokohama reports that “some damage to buildings and equipment has been observed” and the company is “currently working to confirm safety and on recovery efforts.” Other considerations at the Ibaraki site are the timing of return to production plus measures to deal with power supply restrictions and the procuring of raw materials.