Rising Japan Cold Rolled Flat Steel Import Price

Japanese import price of cold rolled flat steel increases when Anshan Iron and Steel raised the offer to C&F US$ 1,230 per tonne or 132,000 yen for August shipment and Union Steel offers more than 130,000 yen, according to trading firm sources. The price increased by 5,000-10,000 yen from July shipment. The dealers are still reluctant for the high priced import much more than domestic market price but the additional supply could cover the shortage under limited availability from domestic integrated steel makers.

Domestic integrated steel makers reduce the supply of cold rolled flat steel for distributors when the makers try to increase the shipment for automotive flat steel. Supply from POSCO and China Steel Corporation expanded the weight in the distributors’ market but the offshore suppliers also reduce the supply to Japanese market to meet domestic demand.

Anshan Iron and Steel and Union Steel apparently take chance in higher priced offshore market when their domestic price is lower than international level.

However, more than 130,000 yen per tonne of the import price level is over 20,000 yen higher than selling price of domestic integrated steel makers. Japanese dealers’ reselling price is only 113,000-115,000 yen level.