Stainless Steel Sheet Price Increases in Tokyo

The market price of stainless steel sheet is strong in Osaka because the supply and demand is tight. Especially, the price for nickel series is expected to increase since the dealers’ purchase price rose rapidly. The price is at 380,000 yen per tonne for base sized SUS304 and at 210,000 yen for base sized SUS430.The shipping from dealers is good. Notably, the amount of shipping is exceeding after summer compared with last summer. The inventory in the market is decreasing trend. The supply and demand is tight situation. Monthly averaged nickel price at London Metal exchange (LME) was US$ 13.95 per pound in August, and was over US$14 in September. Stainless sheet market price is increasing in Osaka in conjunction with the increasing in overseas stainless sheet market price.Dealers are forced to reduce their profit because their selling price hikes don’t catch up with increased purchase price. It is expected that the market price continues to be strong tone in Osaka against a background of the tighter in the supply and demand.