Flat H-Beam Price in Tokyo

H-beam market price is flat at around 118,000-120,000 yen per tonne for 200 by 100 millimeters width without freight at dealers’ sites around Tokyo. The dealers try to find the trend when Nippon Steel is expected to keep the selling price in the month despite of the pressure from higher ferrous scrap price and Tokyo Steel Manufacturing’s hike to 135,000 yen level for spot market. The dealers’ shipment is estimated to decrease by 15-20% in April and May from March level. The dealers’ inventory seems to increase slightly at end of May due to lower shipment by makers. The dealers are cautious on potential insolvency of the buyers under surging steel price. The downstream players couldn’t pass the higher cost price on the customers. The dealers offer different price depending on the buyers at range of 115,000-127,000 yen per tonne. Most of the dealers will keep the reselling price level for a while to find the demand trend while some dealers are forced to increase the price when Tokyo Steel’s price is more than 20,000 yen per tonne higher than integrated steel makers’ price.