Japan Import Flat Steel Stock Increases by 1.8% in January

Hanwa Co. announced on Monday Japanese quay stocks of imported flat steel increased by 4,000 tonnes or 1.8% to 222,000 tonnes at the end of January from a month ago, which decreased by 115,000 tonnes or 34.1% from a year ago. There were few imports from new countries and the import volume was totally moderate level. However, the inventory increased slightly when domestic shipment was rather slow. The quay inventory increased by 4,000 tonnes or 2.6% to 156,000 tonnes in Osaka at the end of January from a month ago. Steel plate increased by 1,000 tonnes or 6.25% to 17,000 tonnes and hot coil by 5,000 tonnes or 15.6% to 37,000 tonnes. Cold rolled coil decreased by 2,000 tonnes or 1.9% to 102,000 tonnes. The quay inventory kept flat in Tokyo at 66,000 tonnes at the end of January from a month ago. Steel plate decreased by 2,000 tonnes or 22.2% to 7,000 tonnes and hot coil by 1,000 tonnes or 3.7% to 26,000 tonnes. Cold coil stock increased by 3,000 tonnes or 10% to 33,000 tonnes. Some large dealers and importers expected the quay inventory would keep less than 300,000 tonnes with fewer import arrivals.