High Japan Flat Rolled Steel Stock in November

Japanese flat rolled steel inventory held by the steel makers, the dealers and members of national association of coil centers decreased by 2.5% or 101,000 tonnes to 4.244 million tonnes at the end of November from October, which decreased for 2 months in a row. However, the inventory was still higher than 4 million tonnes and increased to 2.43 months of shipment from 2.36 months in October.

The inventory held by the makers decreased by 5.9% to 1.915 million tonnes at the end of November from October. The dealers’ stock increased by 0.9% to 885,000 tonnes and the coil centers’ stock increased by 0.9% to 1.444 million tonnes.

Japan Iron and Steel Federation announced on December 28 Japanese carbon steel inventory held by the makers and the dealers decreased by 1.1% or 63,000 tonnes to 5.507 million tonnes for domestic shipment at the end of November from October, which decreased for 2 months in a row. The inventory increased by 15.6% or 146,000 tonnes to 1.084 million tonnes for export shipping, which increased for the first time in 3 months.

The total carbon steel stock increased by 1.3% to 6.59 million tonnes at the end of November from October. The inventory rate increased by 11.2 percentage points to 114.7% of the shipment, which marked more than 100% for 8 months in a row. The rate increased by 3.9 points to 136.2% for domestic shipment.