Firm Plate Price in Tokyo

Plate market price is firm at 82,000 yen per tonne for standard size with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at 98,000 yen for cut processed materials around Tokyo. The dealers try to pass the higher cost price on the market to secure profitability when they got arrivals of high priced materials from makers after 3,000-5,000 yen hike by makers. The price is likely to increase gradually with the cost pressure. The dealers’ shipment is still low level. The dealers expect the demand could recover as early as beginning of 2008 when the building activity is very slow under transition process for new building standard law. The dealers said the supply condition got better than October though some sized materials arrivals delay around 2 weeks from makers. The supply is generally balanced under the slow demand. However, the dealers’ inventory has some stock out sizes for some grade.