JFE Steel’s Coil Export Price to Korea Flat for Oct-Dec

JFE Steel, Japanese major steel maker, seems to set the export price of hot and cold rolled coil for October-December shipment at FOB US$ 1,000 per tonne with South Korean re-rollers. The price is almost as same as July-September.

Asian steel sheet market price entered an adjustment phase though the price had kept uptrend since April 2008. Chinese market price is decreasing. South Korean re-rollers had requested to reduce the price against JFE Steel duet to downward market price. However, re-rollers accepted the offer price of JFE Steel when other steel makers in China can’t produce high-grade steel sheet such for automobiles like JFE Steel’s products.

South Korean economy is declining. Won fell rapidly due to the aftereffect of the financial crisis. The import cost of South Korean re-rollers is increasing because of degradation of cash management with dollar. Steel sheet output for automobile may decrease due to automobile production adjustment.