Bridgestone to raise tyre prices in Japan

TOKYO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Top Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone Corp (5108.T) said on Thursday it would raise prices on March 1 for replacement tyres, tubes and flaps in Japan, and for winter tyres on April 1.

Natural rubber, synthetic rubber and carbon black prices remain high and rising costs have proven "too large and persistent" to absorb through efforts to increase productivity and improve efficiencies, Bridgestone said in a statement.

Tyre prices for passenger cars and light trucks will rise 5.5 percent, for truck and bus tyres by 7.0 percent and for construction vehicles 10 percent.

French rival Michelin 's (MICP.PA) North American unit on Tuesday also raised its prices on commercial truck tyres, among other products. [ID:nPAC008949] (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Rodney Joyce)