Japanese Steel Makers Aim Additional Sheet Hike for Home Electronics

Japanese integrated steel makers plan additional hike of steel sheet export price used for home electronics effective for July-September shipment compared with the previous quarter. They aim to reflect supply tightness and upsurge of the international sheet market price. They already raised the price by over US$ 200 per tonne against both Japanese and non-Japanese home electronics makers for April-June shipment. A maker source said Japanese steel makers should raise the price by over US$ 100 at least.Steel makers are suffered from higher material coats when iron ore price increased by 65% in fiscal 2008 started April and coal price increased by 3 times. Moreover, stronger yen impacts their profitability.Home electronics makers are showing disapprovals toward steel makers’ continuous price hike. Their price negotiations are expected to become hard. The supply and demand balance keeps tight with such a strong demand for flat-screen television in the world.