Japan Import Steel Stock Drops by 3% in November

Hanwa Co. reported on Tuesday Japanese imported steel inventory decreased by 3.1% or 7,000 tonnes to 217,000 tonnes at quay in Tokyo and Osaka at end of November from October, which represented decreases for 2 months in a row. The stock decreased with low level arrivals despite of the slower demand. The stock increased by 13.3% or 22,000 tonnes from a year earlier. The inventory increased by 5% or 6,000 tonnes to 125,000 tonnes in Osaka in November from October. The stock increased by 20% or 2,000 tonnes to 12,000 tonnes for plate, by 40% or 8,000 tonnes to 28,000 tonnes for hot rolled coil while the cold rolled coil stock decreased by 4.4% or 4,000 tonnes to 85,000 tonnes. The inventory decreased by 12.3% or 13,000 tonnes to 92,000 tonnes in Tokyo in November from October. The stock decreased by 11.1% or 1,000 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes for plate, by 14.2% or 9,000 tonnes to 54,000 tonnes for hot coil and by 9% to 30,000 tonnes for cold coil.