Slow Building Demand Suffers Japan Sheet Steel Market

Sheet steel makers and metal sheet roof and building products makers experience very slow shipment for building market in Japan. The demand is very slow due to delay of construction activity under transition process for new building standard law. The demand is expected to recover after January for the makers. Sheet steel makers said the materials sheet supply decreases by 15-20% from integrated steel makers compared with normal level. Under slower demand and less availability of the materials, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Coated Sheet Corporation will reduce the output by around 10% in October-March period from same period of last year. Nisshin Steel also reduces the gavlalume and colored galvalume sheet for October-December from previous quarter to meet the lower demand. The firm could reduce the output by 10-20% for the full year from previous year depending on the progress of the inventory adjustment. Japanese largest metal roof maker, Sanko Metal Industrial Co, Ltd reported the order received was only 13 units for the branches in July-September compared with normal 450 units. Under the major depressed market, metal external wall makers also decrease the shipment for housing and nonresidential building.