Asahi Aims To Raise Auto Glass Prices

Asahi Glass, Asia's largest glassmaker, said it is in talks with car makers to raise prices by 10% because of higher fuel and material costs - the company's first "substantive" increase since 1979. Asahi seeks to reach new price agreements by October, spokesman Y Saitou announced, confirming a Nikkei news report. Asahi, which controls 60% of the domestic automotive glass market, aims to secure the price increases in Japan and other parts of Asia before Europe and the US, Saitou said. A record oil price prompts the company, and other manufacturers, to seek to pass on increased costs to customers.