Thai unrest hurting tire production

[United Press International]

BANGKOK, May 1 (UPI) -- Unrest in Thailand is taking its
toll on the tire industry because it is causing a shortage of raw
material to make tires.
A source from Bridgestone Natural Rubber (Thailand), a
subsidiary of the Japanese tire maker, told the Bangkok Post that
the company had faced some shortages of raw materials since the
beginning of the year as farmers fear tapping the latex due the
violence.
"The next purchase is normally done next month but we don't
know yet how much rubber will be available on the market," the
source from Bridgestone's Songkhla factory said.
"Consequently, we can't make production plans for the
upcoming months."
More than half of the Songkhla factor's raw materials come
from suppliers in the lower southern area of Thailand where the
unrest has been occurring.