Japan Import Steel Stock Rises by 6.7% in August

Japanese import steel inventory at pier in Osaka and Tokyo increased by 15,000 tonnes or 6.7% to 237,000 tonnes at the end of August from July, announced by Hanwa Co. on Friday. The stock increased for the first time in 2 months though the stock level was still 37.7% lower than a year earlier. The stock in Osaka increased by 3,000 tonnes or 1.8% to 164,000 tonnes at the end of August from July. The stock increased by 8,000 tonnes or 8.1% to 106,000 tonnes for cold rolled coil while the stock decreased by 2,000 tonnes or 8.6% to 21,000 tonnes for plate and by 3,000 tonnes or 7.5% to 37,000 tonnes for hot rolled coil. The inventory in Tokyo increased by 12,000 tonnes or 19.6% to 73,000 tonnes at August end from July. The stock increased by 1,000 tonnes or 8.3% to 13,000 tonnes for plate, by 6,000 tonnes or 24% to 31,000 tonnes for hot coil and by 5,000 tonnes or 20.8% to 29,000 tonnes for cold coil.