Steel Sheet Price Keeps Flat in Tokyo

The market price is flat at 65,000-67,000 yen per tonne for hot-rolled steel sheet, at 75,000-77,000 yen per tonne for pickled steel sheet and at 80,000-81,000yen per tonne for cold-rolled steel sheet in Tokyo.Steel sheet demand is currently increasing for automobiles and construction materials. There is some recovery mood in the market, though trading is not active among wholesalers yet under the influence of purchase integration by large contract users.Dealers cannot decrease the reselling price easily when material sheet price stays at the relatively high level. Coil center source said the sales of their own is significantly decreasing despite of stable processing order volume and they cannot reduce the reselling price under the situation.Japanese integrated steel makers are likely to reduce order reception volume in October-December to the actual demand level. The effect on wholesalers market is unclear at present and the market price would keep flat for a while.