H-Beam Price Decreases by 1,000-2,000 yen around Tokyo

Steel H-beam market price declined by 1,000-2,000 yen to 66,000-67,000 yen per tonne for base size around Tokyo in this week. The price is decreasing after Tokyo Steel Manufacturing announced the 5,000 yen price cut for November shipment. The price would decline more when the dealers’ shipment decreases in October while Nippon Steel decided to keep the selling price for November order.

The dealers tried to hike the price to 70,000 yen per tonne. However, one dealer source sees the price would decline to 65,000 yen per tonne. The price competition gets severer among dealers.

The makers study for additional production cut to improve the supply balance. The decreasing H-beam price impacts on steel column and other construction steels products.

Nippon Steel keeps H-beam price for the order in November from October, according to dealer sources. The firm keeps the price for 2 months in a row. The dealers apparently reduce the purchase more when Nippon Steels’ price is higher than the reselling price. One dealer source sees Nippon Steel keeps the price to discourage the dealers’ order.

On the other hand, JFE Bars & Shapes announced the firm reduces the price by 3,000 yen per tonne for equal-angle steel and by 5,000 yen for channel steel for the order in November, which decreases for the first time since April. The firm cut the order receipt, output and shipment by 50% in November from April-June 2008 for 2 straight months.