Tight Japan Cr Series Stainless Supply for Temporary House

Japanese domestic supply of chrome series stainless steel, mainly SUS430 used around kitchen sinks, is likely to tighten when temporary housings are speedily constructed in Tohoku area. Japan Association of Kitchen & Bath revealed the association offered its members to supply kitchen sinks for 30,000 temporary housings within 2 months. The demand is forecasted to almost double in a short term,

Total 90 tonnes of chrome series stainless steel would be used for 30,000 temporary housings, if 3 kilogram of stainless steel was consumed for kitchen sink of one temporary housing. Japanese mills’ supply is already tightening but the demand may temporarily exceed the supply volume.

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation (NSSC), Japanese largest stainless steel maker, announced on March 22 the firm implements backup production of chrome series stainless steel sheet at Hikari works. NSSC also seems to have offered Nisshin Steel to backup supply of bright annealed products. NSSC seems to has contracted hot rolled coil production at around 10,000 tonnes per month with Nisshin Steel.

JFE Steel’s East Japan works (Chiba area), which is dedicated to production of chrome series stainless steel sheet, restarted operation cautiously along with electric power supply adjustment. JFE Steel explained product supply for domestic customers was smooth as of March 23 since IPP (independent power producers) restarted operations. However, it would take time to recover operation as high as pre earthquake level.