Steel Sheet Price Keeps Flat in Tokyo

Steel sheet price is flat in Tokyo. The market price is 67,000-69,000 yen per tonne for hot-rolled steel sheet, 75,000-77,000 yen per tonne for pickled steel sheet and 81,000-82,000 yen per tonne for cold-rolled steel sheet. Coil Centers seek to raise their reselling prices. However, distributors seem facing difficulty in the hike due to slow shipment in the market. Coil centers and dealers are in the weak stances when the inventory level is not tight and the demand conditions are different between the wholesalers market and the market for large contract users. Some dealers point out the shipment is increasing from makers. The market price is unlikely to decrease when foreign steel makers such as POSCO announced the selling price hike. However, the market price is difficult to rebound. The market price would keep flat in the short term, though Japanese integrated steel makers give suggestion for another price hike in autumn.