Asian Tin Plate Demand and Market Price Improve for January-March

Japanese integrated steel makers’ order receipt volume of can materials is increasing by around 30% for export for January-March shipment compared with the level in October-December. The offshore demand and the market price are steadily recovering. Japanese integrated steels show intentions to launch export price hike in and after spot shipment for March to reflect raw material cost upsurge since April 2011 fully.

Several sources of Japanese integrated steel makers and trading houses explained offshore can production decreased for October-December, despite of the demand season in usual years, since crop harvests and fish catches were lean in Southeast Asia. Offshore can material users decreased the procurement volume and Japanese steel makers’ export volume significantly decreased compared with the level in July-September. Moreover, the export market price downturned due to cheap price offers by South Korean and Chinese makers for black plate and tin plate.

In and after late December, the trend changed. Offshore steel makers turned to reduce the export volume and to represent price hike stances. At the same time, overseas market price upturned for hot rolled and cold rolled steel sheet. Then material plate supply is decreasing for thin can plates. Tin plate users successfully advanced inventory adjustment and currently moved to order additional plates when the market price trend improved.

Baoshan Iron & Steel of China, Asian largest tin plate supplier, sets its tin plate selling price for domestic users unchanged for February-March shipment. Japanese concerned sources analyze the firm would not lower the selling price from the present level. In April-June, tin plate shipment tends to increase compared with January-March in usual years. Consequently the export market price is expected to strengthen after Chinese New Year holidays in late January.