Sumitomo Metals to Raise Steel Plate Price for Oct-Dec Production

Sumitomo Metal Industry will raise the selling price of steel plate for steel frame for products produced in October-December. The firm prospects that the domestic demand of steel plate for steel frame becomes to 1.1-1.2 million tonnes through fiscal 2006 ending March 2007 other than for bridge construction and that the order reception would exceed 1.12 million tonnes of fiscal 2005. The firm is examining the range of the price hike.Sumitomo Metals expects Japanese domestic steel frame demand would increase to 7.4-7.5 million tonnes in fiscal 2006 from 7.2 million tonnes in fiscal 2005. There are many planned construction for high-rise building and information technology related plants around Tokyo and Osaka. In addition the order would start for the expansion project of Haneda airport at the end of fiscal 2006, for which 500,000-600,000 tonnes of steel frame would be used.Sumitomo Metals estimates the steel plate demand for steel frame would become to 520,000 tonnes in the half year to September 2006 and to 600,000 tonnes in the half year to March 2007. Steel plate demand is increasing for building material, shipbuilding, construction and industrial machines. The demand of steel press column, which is manufactured from steel plate, is predicted to achieve record 200,000 tonnes in fiscal 2006. Steel plate supply would tighten in the last half of fiscal 2006. Sumitomo Metals tries to keep the stable supply by rapid concentration of the market information such as order condition.