Bridgestone sells steel cord business to Bekaert

Bridgestone has entered into an agreement to sell its steel cord manufacturing businesses in Thailand and China, to Belgium-based steel wire company, Bekaert.

The transfer is scheduled to be completed during the first half of 2026.

Bridgestone said it is rebuilding its steel cord business “in areas where it can leverage collaboration with global partners who have specialised knowledge, networks, and resources”.

Headquartered in Zwevegem, Bekaert has been a long-standing global partner to Bridgestone for the supply of steel cord in tyres.

Through this sale, Bridgestone aims to “respond to changes in the business environment and strengthen stable supply of high quality tyres 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 said it 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 the Saga Plant in Japan, which is Bridgestone’s main plant for steel cord.