Japan H-Beam Stock Increases by 4% in September

H-beam inventory held by members of Tokiwa-kai, which is a group of distributors dealing Nippon Steel’s products, increased by 4.1% to 228,900 tonnes at the end of September from a month ago, which increased for 4 consecutive months, according to Nippon Steel. The firm explained the stock increased in response to dealers’ low shipment and high arrivals from H-beam makers. Domestic demand maintains low for H-beam and seems to take a time to recover. The inventory rate rose by 0.18 months to 2.47 months of shipment. Nippon Steel will continue to reduce H-beam output and order receipt cautiously.

The stock in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya increased by 6.5% to 138,098 tonnes at the end of September from August. Distributors’ shipment decreased by 7.8% to 53,505 tonnes while H-beam arrivals from the makers decreased by 0.3% to 61,831 tonnes. The inventory rate was 2.58 months of shipment, which rose by 0.34 months from August. The inventory in Osaka increased by 9,100 tonnes and pulled up total inventory.

H-beam inventory increased by 0.8% to 90,800 tonnes in other 8 areas including Sapporo, Tohoku, Niigata, Toyama, Shizuoka, Shikoku and Kyusyu, at the end of September from a month ago. The inventory rate was 2.32 months of shipment, lower by 0.06 points than August.