Japanese Billet Export Price Drops to Less Than $ 500/t

Japanese export price of billet and concrete reinforcing steel bar keeps decreasing under lower ferrous scrap price under global finance crisis. The billet export price decreased to under FOB US$ 500 per tonne from peak of US$ 1,074 per tonne for July-August shipment to South Korea. Many dealer sources forecast the export price would decrease to around US$ 400 per tonne.

Ferrous scrap price in South Korea, major scrap consuming country, is apparently decreasing to under 20,000 yen per tonne. Now the dealer in South Korea offers export price C&F 21,000-22,000 yen per tonne to Japan. Japanese billet export price is decreasing toward FOB US$ 400 per tonne responding to offers by South Korea.

Offshore users have no buying motive for Japanese reinforcing steel bar when price of ferrous scrap and billet plunged. Japanese rebar export price increased to FOB US$ 1,080 per tonne for August shipment to US East Coast. The export price would decrease additionally when ferrous scrap price continues to decrease.