Steel Bar Makers Plan Wider Yearend Operation Stop in Tokyo

Steel bar makers around Tokyo plan to stop operation for averaged 10 days, as much as 21 days in yearend and New Year holiday, which is 2-3 days longer than usual. They try to meet slower demand when the construction activity slows down while the buyers hold the order with expectation for lower price. The makers order receipt decreases by more than 70% from a year earlier. The makers study additional operation cut in January when they plan maintenance outage.

Godo Steel’s Funabashi plant in Chiba stops the operation for 8 days from December 28 to January 4 compared with 6 days stop last yearend. Tokyo Tekko’s Oyama plant in Tochigi stops the operation for 5 days from December 30 to January 3 as 5 days stop last year end. Asahi Industries stops the operation for 8 days from December 30 to January 6 compared with 6 days stop last yearend. Itoh Iron and Steel stops the operation for 7 days form December 30 to January 5 at Tsukuba plant in Ibaraki compared with 6 days stop last yearend. JFE Bars & Shapes is still studying the schedule but the stoppage would be around 7 days at Kashima plant in Ibaraki.

Sanko Seiko stops the operation for 9 days from December 27 to January 4 compared with 5 days stop last yearend. Mukoyama Steel Works stops the operation for 10 days from December 27 to January 5 compared with 7 days stop last yearend. Kanto Steel stops the operation for 13 days from December 27 to January 8 compared with 8 days stop last yearend. Jonan Steel stops the operation for 5 days from December 30 to January 3 as last yearend. Chiyoda-Steel stops the rolling from December 20 to January 10 and stops the steel making shop as the lower rolling operation. Daiwa Steel would stop the operation for 11 days at Saitama plant compared with 5 days stop last yearend.