Flat H-Beam Price in Tokyo

H-beam market price keeps flat at 76,000-77,000 yen per tonne for products with 200 by 100 millimeters width at dealers’ sites without freight around Tokyo. H-beam shipment remains low at dealers. Dealers are failing to hike the reselling prices even though H-beam makers raised the selling price by 3,000 yen per tonne. Dealers are waiting for demand recovery while their inventory prices are increasing. H-beam market price is expected to keep same level for a while.Dealers aim to raise the reselling price to 78,000 yen per tonne including freight around Tokyo. Dealer source said the bottom price gradually upped to more than 76,000 yen.Dealers’ H-beam shipment volume kept flat around Tokyo in March from February, while the daily shipment decreased compared with February, according to Tokiwa-kai, a group of dealers dealing Nippon Steel’s products. The shipment has not recovered even in mid April. Consequently dealers cannot raise their reselling prices.Market mood is stagnant when building construction schedules are delayed and H-beam procurement is postponed. However, dealer source suggested general contractors start purchasing H-beam. Dealers expect makers’ rolling schedules would become tight and H-beam price could increase for general contractors, while the supply and demand balance would become favorable in June.