Hike with April rolling by SMI percolates through customers
As for the hike price of seamless steel pipe for Japan from April rolling by Sumitomo Metal Industries, the price for both direct contract and distributors has percolated through customers. The hike was carried out since Sumitomo Metal Industries improved the sales price which decreased hugely before and shifted the cost-up caused by anticipation of material price to sales price, it is in the past a year and three months. It is third hike including April 2001 rolling.

The price for distributors percolated early due to sense of scarcity of goods in the market and an opportunity of the price increase. On the other hand, direct contract price has come to a conclusion according to plan.

The demand of seamless steel pipe is active for mainly export, and for the present, Sumitomo Metal Industries produces annual 1 million tonnes and over. In Japan, export of construction machinery and industrial machinery for Asia is significantly increasing, and sales tend to increase substantially from the previous year.