Japan Processors’ Plate Stock Drops by 2.6% in June

Japanese shearing processors’ plate steel inventory increased by 12.2% to 499,951 tonnes at end of June from a year earlier, according to survey for 169 processors’ 175 plants by the national association. The inventory decreased by 2.6% from May. The inventory adjustment continues from the peak at 550,986 tonnes in March. However, the inventory rate for the shipment was 268.0% but the rate was much higher than normal level of 150-180%.

The shipment decreased by 33.3% to 186,516 tonnes in June from a year earlier, which decreased for 9 months in a row. The shipment decreased by 34.6% to 126,328 tonnes for cut processed plate while the tall cutting process decreased by 30.4% to 20,702 tonnes and the cutting process volume decreased by 34.0% to 147,030 tonnes. The arrival decreased by 37.5% to 173,238 tonnes.

The inventory was 135,113 tonnes around Tokyo at end of June, which represented 267.9% of the shipment. The inventory was 126,515 tonnes around Osaka and 78,006 tonnes around Nagoya, which represented 214.3% and 334.8% of shipment respectively.