Weak Plate Steel Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is decreasing at around 115,000 yen per tonne for standard sized product with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at around 130,000 yen for cut processed materials around Tokyo. Dealers are reducing the reselling price for inventory adjustment. Especially, the award volume of cut processed material is decreasing after autumn. Shearing processors’ operation rate is currently lowering by 30-50% compared with last year.

The price is expected to decrease more due to slow demand from buildings, construction and industrial machines. Steel makers’ delivery lead time is currently around 25 days when the supply and demand is loosing. Dealers’ inventory keeps high level with wide demand decline.