Weak Cold Rolled Flat Stainless Steel in Tokyo

Market price of stainless cold rolled flat steel is decreasing to around 290,000 yen per tonne for SUS304 with 2 millimeters thick around Tokyo. The price became below 300,000 yen for the first time in 3 years and 3 months. Some dealers are selling at cheaper price when they try to liquidate the inventory toward fiscal yearend even at loss making price. Makers and dealers are adjusting the inventory, but the supply and demand hasn’t become tight when dealers’ shipping is low.

The inventory is downward trend in the market. The inventory of some size products became shortage.

Inventory of nickel series cold rolled stainless steel sheet decreased by 5.7% to 47,085 tonnes at Japanese coil centers at the end of February, according to coil center association. But the inventory rate kept over 2 months when their sales volume is decreasing.