Steel Plate Price Decreases Gradually in Tokyo

Steel plate price decreases slightly to 79,000-80,000 yen per tonne in Tokyo for the products with 19 millimeters of thickness, 5 feet of width and 10 feet of length. Dealers aim to keep the price level for their profitability. However, the price is decreasing gradually under the weak demand for material plate for shearing.Material plate supply is easy with the active arrival from makers and the low shipment at dealers. A dealer source said there are even cheaper material plates around Tokyo other than Urayasu area in Chiba Prefecture.Demand is rather better for processed plate than material plate. Dealers barely sustain the present price level at above 100,000 yen per tonne for cut plate, even though some processed plates are sold at less than 100,000 yen for particular customers.Japanese integrated steel makers aim to keep the steel plate price level. Dealers can gain some profits thanks to the increase of steel plate unit price since 2005. The market price is unlikely to plunge sharply as a result.