Flat Plate Steel Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is flat at 80,000-83,000 yen per tonne for standard size with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at 97,000-99,000 yen for cut processed materials around Tokyo under slow demand. The price is likely to keep the level due to slow demand despite of the tight supply.

The domestic building demand is expected to increase. However, the more transaction direct from makers reduce the distributors’ shipment from the inventory. The distributors experience several weeks of delay for arrivals from the makers. The distributors couldn’t increase the reselling price due to slow demand even when they cannot secure the materials.

The demand is strong for shipbuilding, construction and industrial machinery and export. The demand is likely to keep firm for shipbuilding when the builders keep 4-5 years of order backlog. The supply is getting tighter after July though domestic integrated steel makers operate at full capacity to meet the strong demand.