Weak H-Beam Price in Tokyo

H-beam market price decreases to 90,000 yen per tonne for 200 by 100 millimeters width around Tokyo. Some buyers try to source from the dealers in other areas when the market price in Osaka is around 10,000 yen lower than Tokyo. The undermining transaction could pressure on market price around Tokyo.

The dealers’ inventory apparently decreased by around 40% in January from December. The arrivals from the makers decreased by around 30% when integrated steel makers rejected the order from the dealers for 3 months in a row. However, the stock is regarded as overstock when the shipment decreased by 5-10% in January from December.

Building start of steel structure decreased by 26.7% in square meters in December from a year earlier. The starts could keep low level in January when many building plans were postponed. Potential insolvency of developers delays the building plans. Such slump in building market could impact on the beam demand and price.

H-beam buyers expect lower price holding the orders as long as possible. The buyers’ pressure for lower price could reduce the market price more while the price decrease pace is more moderate than before.