Market Price of Phosphor Bronze Products Keeps Flat

The market price of phosphor bronze sheet and strip keeps flat in Tokyo at around 1,575 yen per kilogram for general usage sheet with 1 millimeter thick and at around 1,805 yen per kg for sheet used as spring material with 1 mm thick.Dealer source said the demand condition keeps almost unchanged even after Nippon Mining & Metals revised down Japanese official copper ingot price by 40,000 yen to 900,000 yen per tonne on Thursday. Market prices of phosphor bronze products in October are indicated by monthly average of the official copper price in September. Dealer source said the order is steadily increasing approaching the year-end demand season.The demand turned firm for cellular phone after the slight adjustment in summer. The demand is also active for digital appliances, mainly for the immediate usage, when replacement demand is increasing for liquid crystal television.The market price of phosphor bronze products is expected to down by around 4 yen per kg after October if Japanese official copper price keeps the current level. However, the market price could maintain flat with the firm demand unless the official copper price decreases remarkably.