Japan Major Steels to Seek US$ 1,000/t Hot Coil Export Price for July-Sep

Japanese integrated steel makers’ sheet steel export price is likely to jump for July-September shipment after US$ 150-300 per tonne up for April-June. They try to increase the price level by US$ 200-300 to FOB US$ 1,000 for hot rolled coil at coming negotiation in early May. They increased the hot coil export price gradually for April-June shipment when they settled the price at around US$ 750 per tonne for South Korean rerollers in mid-February, at more than US$ 800 for Southeast Asian users in early-March and at US$ 900 for South Korean pipe makers in late March. However, the price is already relative lower when hot coil price exceeded US$ 1,000 per tonne in Europe and USA. Asian export market is around US$ 900 recently.