Plate Price Maintains Flat in Tokyo

Plate steel market price is flat at around 128,000-129,000 yen per tonne for product with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at 148,000-150,000 yen for cut processed materials at dealers’ sites around Tokyo. Dealers sustain the reselling price when their shipping is slow despite of rising price of accepted products.

The demand is low mainly from building constructions. Small-middle size building construction maintains low around Tokyo. A dealer source said the demand seems lower than the same period of last year when there was an impact by the revision of Japanese building standard law. Dealers’ competition is being harder. Dealers’ inventory isn’t excess due to makers’ output reductions.

A dealer source said the market price decreases due to slower demand, but plate makers keep the selling price except for Tokyo Steel Manufacturing. Dealers are trying to sustain the reselling price.