Japan Imported Steel Stock Drops by 4.2% in February

Hanwa Co. announced on Monday Japanese imported steel inventory quay decreased by 4.2% to total 203,000 tonnes in Osaka and Tokyo at end of February from a year earlier. The inventory was flat as January when the cold rolled flat steel stock decreased in Tokyo and Osaka while the hot rolled flat steel stock increased in Tokyo. The stock in Tokyo increased by 19% or 14,000 tonnes to 86,000 tonnes at end of February from a year earlier. The stock increased by 4.9% or 4,000 tonnes from January. The inventory increased by 5,000 tonnes or 11% to 52,000 tonnes for hot coil and decreased by 1,000 tonnes or 3.6% to 27,000 tonnes from January while the plate stock was flat at 7,000 tonnes as January. The stock decreased by 23,000 tonnes or 16% to 117,000 tonnes at end February from a year earlier. The stock level decreased by 4,000 tonnes or 3.3% from January. The inventory decreased by 9.1% or 1,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes for plate and by 3.7% or 3,000 tonnes to 79,000 tonnes for cold coil while the hot coil stock was flat at 28,000 tonnes.