Flat Sheet Steel in Tokyo

Sheet steel market price is flat around Tokyo when the buyers resist higher offer by the dealers after speculative purchase move in April and before. The price is 100,000-103,000 yen per tonne for hot rolled flat steel, 104,000-107,000 yen for pickling steel 109,000-112,000 yen for cold rolled flat steel. The price is likely to keep the level while the dealers try to pass higher cost price.Domestic integrated steel makers reduce the shipment for dealers when the makers try to ship for contract users including automakers and export. The dealers’ shipment is still slow when a dealer said the shipment decreased by around 15% in May from April. The dealers’ inventory is low level mainly for cold rolled and pickling steel. Some dealers imported sheet to cover the limited availability from domestic makers. However, the import offer is US$ 1,000 per tonne for hot coil and more than 125,000 yen for cold rolled flat steel, which is higher than domestic price.