Japan Carbon Steel Stock Slightly Shrinks by 0.6% in May

Japanese carbon steel inventory decreased by 0.6% or 30,000 tonnes to 4.865 million tonnes for domestic shipment at the end of May from April, which decreased for 5 consecutive months, according to Japan Iron & Steel Federation. The inventory kept below 2 million tonnes for 2 consecutive months. The stock for export increased by 52.6% or 310,000 tonnes to 898,000 tonnes in May from April, which increased for the first time in 3 months.

The stock rate increased by 0.8 percentage points to 133.4% at the end of May from last month, which stayed over 100% for 7 consecutive months. The stock rate decreased by 5.2 points to 160.4% for domestic shipment.

The carbon steel stock held by makers increased by 10.4% to 4.361 million tonnes at the end May from April while the distributors’ stock decreased by 8.6% to 1.402 million tonnes. The stock held by makers increased for the first time in 6 months while the distributors’ stock decreased for the first time in 5 months.

The stock increased by over 10,000 tonnes for small bar, flat steel coil with more than 600 millimeters width, cold rolled flat coil, cold electric flat coil, large-sized shapes, H-beam, and sheet pile while decreased by over 10,000 tonnes for steel tube and cold rolled steel sheet.

Japanese carbon steel shipment increased by 2.6% or 75,000 tonnes to 3.032 million tones for domestic market in May from April. The shipment for export increased by 9.2% to 1.287 million tonnes, which increased for the first time in 2 months. Total shipment increased to 4.31 million tonnes, which maintained the level as low as February 1969.