Dealers Raise Rebar Price in Tokyo

Concrete reinforcing steel bar output decreased by 10% to about 300,000 tonnes in July compared with last month and decreased by 10% from the same month of last year in Tokyo because each maker stopped the operation for scheduled refinement in July. The output is expected to decrease to around 280,000 tonnes in August. The supply and demand is expected to be tighter. The shipment decreased by 5% to about 3200,000 tonnes in July compared with last month due to makers’ refinement or seasonal factor, and was flat from the same month of last year in Tokyo. The shipment keeps high level at over 300,000 tonnes. Especially, thin size products shipment is good. The shipment is expected to decrease in August from July, but to keep over 300,000 tonnes.Rebar inventory decreased by 10% to about 160,000 tonnes at the ended of July from last month in Tokyo. Makers are increasing the inventory for scheduled refinement. Each maker thinks to make ready to shipping for seasonal demand in autumn. They try to produce it for contract balance which is average 4-5 months.Rebar market price is 70,000 yen per tonne for base size with 19 millimeters diameter around Tokyo. An order from general contractors is less due to seasonal factor. But the anticipation of a rise is strong forward eh demand in autumn.