Weak Plate Steel Price in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is flat at around 126,000 yen per tonne for standard size with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at around 145,000 yen for cut processed material around Tokyo. The price is likely to keep weak due to demand slump for almost all applications.

The dealers’ order receipt for construction keeps slow due to low level activity for small-and mid-sized building activity. The demand halved for construction and industrial machinery from the peak in the first half year.

The plate makers keep the high level selling price for the dealers despite of the slow demand. The supply for the dealers keeps low level but the dealers’ inventory increases. The plate supply in the dealers’ market gets easier than before. The supply balance pressures on the market price downward while the supply is still tight for some special grade plate.

The plate supply is still tight for contract users due to high level activity in shipbuilding, bridge and major building projects while the machinery demand slows down.