Weak Structural Steel Bar Price in Tokyo

Structural steel market price is weak at around 125,000 yen per tonne for carbon steel bar for machine structural use and at around 155,000 yen for chromium and molybdenum steel bar around Tokyo. Major construction machinery maker increases the output to export to China. However, the shipment of dealers remains low and the demand would not increase for a while.

The inventory is slightly decreasing. However, one major dealer source said the shipment is about half of the peak while the local price competition continues.

According to the association of special steel dealers, the shipment of structural steel increased by 6.9% to 82,086 tonnes in July from June while the inventory decreased by 5.1% to 201,371 tonnes. The shipment in July reached more than 80,000 tonnes for the first time in 7 months. However, the shipment is about 52% of the peak. The major dealer source said the shipment increases only for some items.