Weak Stainless Plate Price around Osaka

Stainless steel plate market price continued to drop around Osaka. Dealers are adjusting inventory due to makers’ largely output cut, but dealers’ sales decreased by 30-50% from last year due to slower demand. The market price seems to drop when the demand is weakening.

The market price is 380,000 yen per tonne for SUS304 for hot rolled coil cut plate with 3-6 millimeters thick and 520,000 yen for plate mill products with 7-14 mm thick around Osaka. Some dealers sell 350,000-360,000 yen for SUS304 and 490,000-500,000 yen for plate mill products. A dealer source said the market price is headed from400, 000 yen to 350,000 yen.

The demand for shipbuilding, food or solar battery keeps firm, but for other manufacturing is decreasing due to adjournment or cancellation of an order. The order to dealers is reducing largely.

Japanese stainless steel makers are continuing to reduce the output, but the demand is dropping more than makers’ output cut. The supply and demand doesn’t become tight. Users keep conservative buying when nickel price is falling.