Weak H-Beam Price in Tokyo

H-beam market price is weak at around 75,000 yen per tonne for 200 by 100 millimeters width in Tokyo. Some dealers offer low reselling price when bargaining power of users is stronger than dealers.

A major dealer source said H-beam arrival volume from makers kept almost flat in April compared with March while shipment volume increased month-to-month. The dealers’ inventory seemed to decrease at the end of April from a month earlier, which decreased by 4.2% to 47,500 tonnes at the end of March from a month earlier.

Tokyo Steel Manufacturing, Japanese largest electric furnace steel maker, reduced its H-beam selling price to 73,000 yen per tonne against general contractors. Meanwhile, some integrated steel makers reduced the selling price. Makers’ price cut impacts the market price. Market players pay attentions to the price announcement by Nippon Steel, Japanese largest integrated steel maker, scheduled on May 13.

Some dealers forecast dealers can’t sustain the reselling price at 80,000 yen per tonne. The market price may drop if Nippon Steel decreases the selling price.