Firm Plate Steel Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is firm at around 118,000-119,000 yen per tonne for standard size with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at around 130,000 yen for cut processed plate around Tokyo. The dealers try to increase the reselling price more with makers’ additional hike. The dealers’ shipment is still slow as April when the shipment was slower after speculative purchase with expectation for higher price. A processor said the price increase pace is slower due to the thin transactions. However, the integrated steel makers offer additional 10,000 yen per tonne hike for distributors in and after May just after 20,000 yen hike in April. Tokyo Steel Manufacturing increased the selling price by 12,000 yen to 129,000 yen for May order. The supply to dealers tends to delay when the makers try to secure the materials for manufacturers including shipbuilders and construction machinery makers. With the tight supply condition, the dealers’ inventory keeps decreasing. Under the condition, the dealers try to increase the reselling price as early as possible before the high priced materials arrive at the warehouse.