Strong Stainless Steel Bar Price in Tokyo

Stainless steel bar price keeps strong at 300,000 yen per tonne for SUS403 grade, 770,000 yen for SUS304 and 1.15 million yen for SUS316 around Tokyo. Especially, the bar for SUS316 is rising largely when the bar includes higher rate of nickel and molybdenum.The demand is good. The bar is seemed that it can’t be shifted to other material when it is used as mainly manufacturing material if its price rises. Dealer source said dealer’s price hike is able to be accepted by users when users understand the function of the bar despite of higher price.The market price is expected to rise by around 130,000 yen per tonne for SUS304 in July due to makers’ price hike for the contract in May. Makers raised their products selling price in May for the reflection of nickel price in London Metal Exchange which increased to US$23 from US$18.5. The increase rate was largest ever.Dealer source said the inventory rate is right and the shipment from dealers isn’t bad in this year despite of non-demand season.