Japan Cable Market Price Keeps Flat with Weakness

Market price of building cable keeps flat with potential decreasing around Tokyo. The price is around 1,295-1,320 yen per meter of cut length for 3-core 600 volt CVT (triplex-type XLPE cable) with 38 square millimeters of copper cross section and around 40 yen per meter for 2-core 600V VVF (vinyl insulated vinyl sheathed flat-type cable) with 1.6 mm diameter.Japanese official copper ingot price currently remains 20,000-yen range bound around 910,000 yen per tonne, which is the indicator for electric cable prices. Demand from electric contractors and electric wholesalers maintain slow and shows no sign to recover yet.Cable wholesalers are trying to sustain the reselling price with concerns on resurgence of excessive competition. Demand is stagnant even if they cut down the price. Cable wholesalers expect domestic new housing starts might recover in July and demand for electric cable could rebound.Japanese cable makers aim to pass the upsurge of resin costs on the cable selling price. Their strong selling stances can support the market mood, although the price hike seems difficult to be approved under the current supply and demand balance.However, cable market price would gradually decline if the shipment keeps stagnant so long. The market price keeps flat but in weak tone.