Firm Stainless Steel Sheet Price in Tokyo

Market price of stainless steel price is increasing at 320,000 yen per tonne for SUS304 base size and 200,000 yen for SUS430 around Tokyo. The price is likely to be heavily affected by higher nickel price, which increased again to US$ 9.4 per pound on Monday and could increase to US$ 10. The stainless sheet distributors try to increase the reselling price by 20,000 yen per tonne for nickel series products in July after makers increased the selling price for distributors widely one and after. The distributors could have hard time for the negotiation during slower demand season though the current demand keeps firm. Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel increased the selling price by 30,000 yen to 365,000 yen per tonne for nickel series products in the month. The firm is likely to increase the price by around 20,000 yen in July to cover higher nickel cost when nickel price keeps high level. Nisshin Steel is expected to increase the price by around 20,000 yen under the surcharge system.