Firm Plate Steel Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is firm at around 120,000 yen per tonne for standard size with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at around 140,000 yen for cut processed materials around Tokyo. The price increases when the dealers try to pass higher cost price after additional hike by the domestic integrated steel makers for June shipment. The dealers market are suffered from slower building activity especially for mid- and small-scale building since mid-May while the demand is strong for construction machinery and major building. The dealers see the demand shows sign to recover in July but the demand is expected not to recover significantly. Some small sized processors operate at very low level due to slow demand.The domestic plate makers reduce the shipment for distributors to meet strong demand for shipbuilding and construction machinery. The dealers’ inventory is low but the level is enough to the low level demand. The dealers try to avoid low price order receipt when they expect the supply would keep low level even when the demand recovers.