Firm Plate Steel Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is firm at 82,000 yen per tonne for base size with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length around Tokyo. The cut processed plate is around 98,000 yen. The price is likely to increase when the dealers try to pass higher cost price under tight supply. The supply is tight due to strong demand for contract users including shipbuilders and construction and industrial machinery makers. The distributors’ shipment is still slow. However, the tight supply decreases the dealers’ inventory. Some dealers have some stock out sizes for special grade products. A dealer source said they cannot find materials at low price as before when they purchase materials from dealers. The dealers increase the reselling price by 2,000-3,000 yen per tonne to cover higher cost price after makers’ hike. The price hike effort is accepted in certain level in late October. The dealers try to realize total 3,000-5,000 yen hike to cover higher cost price.