Sheet Price Increases around Tokyo

Steel sheet market price increased by 2,000-5,000 yen per tonne around Tokyo last week. The price increased by 5,000 yen to 86,000-88,000 yen for cold rolled steel while the price increased by 3,000 yen to 93,000-94,000 yen for hot rolled based electrogalvanized steel and to 77,000-79,000 yen for pickling steel and the price of hot dip galvanized steel increased by 2,000 yen to 92,000-94,000 yen. The price would increase more when the dealers try to increase the offer after price hike by Tokyo Steel Manufacturing.

The users increased the purchase volume while the steel makers could increase the price more. The dealers try to increase the price by 4,000 yen when Tokyo Steel announced price hike for the shipment in May.

The inquiries for cold rolled and pickling steel increase from automobile related users and the dealers receive an estimation request for coated steel for the shipment in and after October, according to one dealer source. The dealers increase the price while integrated steel makers keep the supply at low level.