Japan Import Flat Steel Stock Rises by 11.5% in June

Hanwa Co. announced on Friday Japanese imported flat steel inventory at quay in Tokyo and Osaka increased by 23,000 tonnes or 11.5% to 222,000 tonnes at end of June from May. The inventory increased for 2 months in a row and the level is 22,000 tonnes or 11% higher than a year earlier. The stock level increase due to higher cold rolled flat steel import from POSCO of South Korea and China Steel Corporation of Taiwan. The inventory increased by 20,000 tonnes or 20.6% to 117,000 tonnes in Osaka at end June from May. The inventory increased by 23,000 tonnes or 39.6% to 81,000 tonnes for cold rolled flat steel while the stock deceased by 3,000 tonnes or 25% to 9,000 tonnes for plate and the hot rolled coil inventory was flat at 27,000 tonnes. The stock increased by 2.9% or 3,000 tonnes to 105,000 tonnes in Tokyo at end June from May. The stock increased by 1.3% or 3,000 tonnes to 26,000 tonnes for cold rolled coil while the stock was flat at 10,000 tonnes for plate and at 69,000 tonnes for hot coil.