H-beam Price Hits 1.5 Month Low in Osaka

H-beam market price decreased to 80,000 yen per tonne around Osaka, which marked the lowest price in one and half month. The price would continue decreasing when Tokyo Steel Manufacturing announced the firm reduces steel selling price for June order.

H-beam demand temporarily increased around Osaka due to the speculation buying after the major earthquake on March 11. However, the demand has been decreasing since April after the speculation buying in March. The dealers’ inventory has been increasing since April when the dealers increased the purchase while the stock was thinner in March.

Some dealers are reducing H-beam selling price to get the order while the users require price cut under loose supply and demand balance. The market price decreased for the first time since November.

H-beam market price would decrease more around Osaka with Tokyo Steel’s price reduction. One dealer source said current market price level has little room for additional price cut based on current cost price when the market price already started to decrease before Tokyo Steel’s announcement.