Japan Import Flat Steel Stock Drops by 9.7% in November

Hanwa Co. announced on Friday the import steel port inventory decreased by 21,000 tonnes or 9.7% to 195,000 tonnes at the end of November from October, which represents the first decrease in 2 months. The stock level was 47% lower than a year earlier. The stock decreased widely under higher demand and lower import arrivals except for cold rolled coil.

The inventory in Osaka decreased by 17,000 tonnes or 12.4% to 137,000 tonnes at the end of November from October. The inventory decreased by 5,000 tonnes or 25% to 15,000 tonnes for plate, by 3,000 tonnes or 9.3% to 29,000 tonnes for hot rolled coil and by 9,000 tonnes or 8.8% to 93,000 tonnes for cold coil.

The inventory in Tokyo decreased by 4,000 tonnes or 6.4% to 58,000 tonnes at November end from October. The stock decreased by 2,000 tonnes or 15.3% to 11,000 tonnes for plate and by 3,000 tonnes or 12% to 22,000 tonnes for hot coil while the cold coil stock increased by 1,000 tonnes or 4.1% to 25,000 tonnes.