Japan Steel Makers Offer Hike for EG Steel Sheet Export Price

Japanese integrated steel makers and Japanese major electric appliance makers at overseas are in price negotiation for shipment in the last half of fiscal 2007 ending March 2008. Maker source said Japanese integrated steels offered price hike by US$ 30-50 per tonne. Steel demand is increasing worldwide for thin-screen televisions or office automation equipment when Japanese electric appliance makers have expanded overseas production. Especially, the orders are strong for electro galvanizing steel sheet and the supply and demand balance keeps tight.Material costs are surging such for zinc and freight. Japanese steel makers reviewed their selling price for stable supply and began offering the price hike to overseas plants of Japanese major electric appliance makers. Japanese steels have already raised the selling price for overseas plants of Japanese electric appliance makers and Japanese coil centers so far.Japanese integrated steels’ hot coil export price continues increasing. Japanese steel makers settled the price negotiation at FOB US$ 560 per tonne with the buyers in South America or Middle East for the shipping during October-December. Other price negotiations called mill’s option were also raised by US$ 10-20 to US$ 570-580 for shipment during December 2007-January 2008. Hot coil supply maintains tight thanks to the stable demand worldwide. Japanese integrated steel makers also hold little excess capacity.