Bridgestone sells steel cord business in Thailand and China to Bekeart

Tokyo, Japan – Bridgestone Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its group company, Bridgestone Metalpha (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“BMT”) and Bridgestone (Shenyang) Steel Cord Co., Ltd. (“BSSS”) to NV. Bekaert S.A. (“Bekaert”).

The transfer is scheduled to be completed during the first half of 2026. Bridgestone is rebuilding its steel cord business in areas where it can leverage collaboration with global partners who have specialized knowledge, networks, and resources. Bekaert is a longstanding global partner in the steel cord business. With this business transfer, Bridgestone aims to respond to changes in the business environment and strengthen stable supply of high-quality tires and its competitiveness over the mid-to-long term by leveraging Bekaert’s supply system, technologies, and extensive knowledge related to steel cord further. Bridgestone will continue to develop and produce strategic steel cord in-house in areas that are directly linked to its core competence – material technologies and product strategies – and where proprietary knowledge and technologies are essential. These operations will be led by Saga Plant in Japan, which is the main plant of Bridgestone for steel cord.

This transaction is part of the business restructuring and rebuilding (2nd stage) in Bridgestone’s Mid-Term Business Plan (2024–2026), aimed at reinforcing business quality across the value chain. The impact of this transaction on the consolidated financial forecast for the current fiscal year is minimal.