The Japanese group Bridgestone closed 2012 with profits more than doubled compared to the previous year: +66,7% to 171,6 billion yen. Behind this performance the low cost of raw materials and better margins in commercial terms. And the growth will continue also this year thanks, according to the Japanese group itself, to the emphasis already placed on high value-added products in 2012 and also to the competitiveness regained by the yen.
In fact, the company estimates that in 2013 its net profit will increase by 36,9% to 235 billion yen (about 2 billion euros) and the turnover is estimated to increase by 17% to 3.550 billion. In the fourth quarter, the Japanese company, the world's largest tire manufacturer, recorded profits of 55,7 billion, up 165% on the same period of the previous year. Performance that disappointed analysts who were 80,8 billion in profits. Sales at the same time increased by 3% to 813,4 billion. The group's forecasts are based on an average estimate for 2013 of one dollar at 89 and one euro at 119 yen.
