Bridgestone sees 15 pct fall in 2009 profit-Nikkei

NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Bridgestone Corp (5108.T), Japan's biggest tire maker, expects its operating profit to fall 15 percent to about 100 billion yen ($1.07 billion) in calendar 2009, the Nikkei financial daily reported.

Bridgestone said on Dec. 22 that it expected to report a 2008 operating profit of 118 billion yen, down from 249.96 billion in 2007, as automakers cut back on production.

Sales will likely drop about 10 percent from 2008 to about 2.85 trillion yen, the Nikkei said without citing sources.

The strong yen has also pressured the earnings of the company, which depends on overseas markets for about two-thirds of its sales, the Nikkei said, although the fall could be cushioned somewhat by plunging raw material costs.

($=93.43 yen) (Reporting by Ted Kerr; editing by Richard Chang)