Steel Plate Market to Bottom Out in Osaka

The market price of steel plate seems to bottom out at 74,000 yen per tonne for standard products with 19 millimeters thick, 3 feet width and 6 feet length in Osaka area. The inventory is steadily decreasing at dealers and makers’ supply is expected to be reduced in near future. The dealers do not decrease their reselling prices recently under the situation. Steel plate supply is forecasted to tighten more if the demand for construction comes out in autumn. The market price would gradually become stronger.

Steel plate market stayed low by July for standard sized products around Osaka. The distributors had to accept price discount by users or local dealers when the inventory adjustment was in delay and the demand was stagnant for dealers. However, the supply for dealers was gradually decreased. Steel plate import is decreased from South Korea, Taiwan and China. Japanese steel plate import currently keeps the low level at 10,000-20,000 tonnes per month.

Japanese steel plate makers are continuing high production at about 1 million tonnes per month when their shipment is active for domestic shipbuilding, construction machine, industrial machine and export. The makers recently accepted the mass order for UO steel pipe and the shipment for dealers is in some delay.