Japan Import Steel Stock Drops by 1.6% in April

Japanese imported steel inventory at quay in Tokyo and Osaka decreased by 1.6% or 3,000 tonnes to 184,000 tonnes at end of April from March, according to Hanwa Co. The inventory decreased for 2 months in a row due to lower arrival. The stock level decreased by 26,000 tonnes or 12.3% from a year earlier. The inventory decreased by 5.4% or 6,000 tonnes to 105,000 tonnes in Osaka at end of April from March. The inventory decreased by 12.9% or 10,000 tonnes to 67,000 tonnes for cold rolled coil while the hot coil stock increased by 15.3% or 4,000 tonnes to 30,000 tonnes and the plate stock was flat at 8,000 tonnes. The inventory increased by 3.9% or 3,000 tonnes to 79,000 tonnes at end of April from March. The stock increased by 40% or 2,000 tonnes to 7,000 tonnes for plate and by 10.8% or 5,000 tonnes to 51,000 tonnes for hot coil while the cold coil stock decreased by 16% or 4,000 tonnes to 21,000 tonnes.