Japan Steel Sheet Stock was Flat in December

Japanese inventory of hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheet steel for domestic shipment held by makers, distributors and processors decreased by 0.04% or 2,000 tonnes to 4.103 million tonnes at the end of December from November 2007. The inventory has exceeded 4 million tonnes which is decent level. Nippon Steel pointed out speculated demand is increasing due to rising material and fuel price, and the makers must research actual demand and adjust the inventory earlier. The inventory increased by 0.7% or 13,000 tonnes to 1.817 million tonnes for makers, by 0.1% or 1,000 tonnes to 778,000 tonnes for distributors while decreased by 0.7% or 12,000 tonnes to 1.509 million tonnes for processors at the end of December from November.It was considered the inventory for makers increased due to strong shipment for manufacturing industry such as automobile. However, makers will enhance the production and inventory adjustment in January-March 2008 when the demand for steel sheet hit the bottom by the revision of Japanese building standard law in January-March 2008.The inventory decreased by 1.3% or 29,000 tonnes to 2.151 million tonnes for hot rolled steel sheet at the end of December from November, by 0.7% or 9,000 tones to 1.208 million tonnes for coated steel sheet while increased by 5.5% or 40,000 tonnes to 744,000 tonnes for cold rolled steel sheet.