Tokyo--Bridgestone Corporation held the official opening ceremony earlier this week for a 40 kt/year carbon black plant in Thailand, that started production in May 2004. The plant is in Ban Khai District of Rayong Province, about 180 kilometers south of Bangkok. It operates as Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a wholly owned member of the Bridgestone Group.
In an official statement, Bridgestone said the plant represents an investment of Baht 1700 million (€32.6 million) and exports carbon black to Bridgestone tyre plants in Japan and in other nations. Bridgestone produces carbon black in Japan at its subsidiary Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd. Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand)'s Ban Khai Plant is Bridgestone's first wholly-owned carbon black plant outside Japan.
