Lower Angle, Channel Price in Tokyo

Market price of angle and channel steel is weak at 110,000 yen for equal angle with 6 millimeters thick and 50 mm width and 115,000 yen for channel with 5 mm thick, 50 by 100 mm width around Tokyo. Some dealers sell equal angle as low as 105,000 yen. The market price is expected to drop when makers announced to reduce the selling price in this week.

Dealers’ inventory keeps flat from October. They restrict the order volume with minimum, but their inventory adjustment doesn’t progress duet o decreased shipping volume.

The demand for building construction accounts for around 60% of angle demand, which keeps low situation. The demand turned the reduction for industrial machinery, construction machinery or shipbuilding. The demand is expected to maintain low level. Makers are reducing the output by around 40% in the last half of fiscal 2008 at ended of March 2009 compared with the first half of fiscal 2008. They are seemed to entertain the cutoff of accepting order in December order.