Bridgestone selling Thai carbon black assets to Tokai Carbon

Japanese tyre and rubber giant, Bridgestone, has agreed to sell its Thailand carbon black subsidiary, Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (BSCB) to Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd. and Thai Tokai Carbon Product Co. Ltd. Tokai Carbon is a Japanese leader in manufacturing of carbon black and graphite electrodes.

Bridgestone said it is rebuilding its in-house carbon black business in areas where it can leverage collaboration with global partners such as Tokai Carbon who have specialised knowledge, networks, and resources. In addition to the procurement of carbon black, Bridgestone is also engaged with Tokai Carbon in a joint project to produce carbon black from used tyres in the recycling business.

The move will help Bridgestone leverage Tokai Carbon’s supply system, technologies, and extensive knowledge related to carbon black. Bridgestone will also continue to deepen its co-creation in the recycling business and other key areas.

Bridgestone will continue to develop and produce strategic carbon black in-house in areas that are directly linked to its core competence – material technologies, or “mastering rubber” – and where proprietary knowledge and technologies are essential. These areas include premium tyres, motorsports tyres, and sustainability. These operations will be carried out through Asahi Carbon Co. Ltd., Bridgestone’s group company in Japan.