Firm Plate Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is firm at 80,000-83,000 yen per tonne for product with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and 97,000-99,000 yen for cut processed products around Tokyo. The distributors try to find the timing to increase the reselling price under tight supply. The demand is firm for shipbuilding and construction and industrial machinery due to strong demand from offshore buyers. The building demand is expected to increase after summer after the long slump. The major shearing processors apparently have tight processing schedule mainly for major buyers. However, the small- and middle-sized processors are still in slump with higher plate inventory. Their business could improve but it is likely to take a couple of months when the major processors can cope with the current demand level after their expansion. With higher demand, the major processors would commission the part of the work to smaller processors. The makers rolling schedule is likely to keep tight despite of the full capacity operations under the strong demand. Some distributors try to keep the plate inventory preparing for potential higher demand.