Flat Steel Price Rises Slightly in Tokyo

Flat steel bar market price is slightly rising to around 90,000-95,000 yen per tonne for 6 millimeters thick and 50 mm width products at dealers’ site without freight around Tokyo. Dealers are trying to raise their reselling prices to reflect high cost price despite of low demand. The market price is edging higher.

Dealers’ inventory keeps low from last month. Dealers are reducing the orders to makers. Flat steel arrivals to dealers maintain low level. Dealers shipment is low when speculate demand settled down.

Wide flat bar price is decreasing when cut plate market price became below 100,000 yen per tonne. Because users select cheaper plate, the demand for flat bar is decreasing.

Dropped ferrous scrap market price impacts dealers’ price hike for flat bar. H-beam market price turned weak, which is likely to effect flat bar market price. The point is whether building construction demand increases or not.