Maruichi Steel Tube to Hike Pipe Items by 20,000 yen/t

Maruichi Steel Tube increases the selling price by 20,000 yen per tonne for steel items including structural steel pipe, gas pipe, square pipe, mechanical tube and colored pipe both for contract users and distributors effective on April 1 shipment. The firm also increases the price of agricultural pipe by 15-20%. The firm indicates the additional hike depending on the hot coil price to keep stable supply. The firm tries to pass higher cost price on the market when domestic integrated steel makers increase the hot rolled coil price by more than 20,000 yen per tonne for April shipment. The firm said the production cost increases when the firm reduces the output due to less availability of hot coil from domestic makers and the cost increases for freight and other factors.