Import Flat Steel Stock Keeps High around Tokyo

Japanese imported steel products inventory at quays in Tokyo kept over 100,000 tonnes in September. The total amount kept flat at 112,000 tonnes in September compared with August; increasing by 2,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes for plate, decreasing by 3,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes for hot coil, and increasing by 1,000 tonnes to 32,000 tonnes for cold rolled coil. Plate and cold sheet imports hit the yearly record volume.

Inventory of hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheet held by Japanese makers, distributors and processors for domestic shipment increased to 4.409 million tonnes at the end of September. It seems difficult that dealers increase the import volume due to over domestic inventory. However, the import may increase when yen rate is rising and steel makers in South Korea or China are reducing the offer price to Japan after September due to Asian market price drop.