H-beam Market Price Keeps Flat in Tokyo

H-beam market price is flat at 75,000 yen per tonne in Tokyo for products with 200 x 100 millimeters widths at dealers’ sites without freight. Dealers aim to raise their reselling prices when Tokyo Steel Manufacturing raised its selling price by 2,000 yen per tonne for July contracts following the previous price hike for June contracts. However, H-beam shipment is not so active at dealers’ sites to support the market price yet, though recovering slightly. The market price is still difficult to increase.H-beam inventory around Tokyo decreased by 2.6% to 68,959 tonnes at the end of May from a month ago among distributors dealing Nippon Steel’s products, which decreased for 2 consecutive months. However, the shipment decreased by 8.5% to 27,272 tonnes at dealers. The inventory owed the decrease to integrated steel makers’ output reduction.There is little anticipation for high-prices and nominal demand in the market, although Tokyo Steel Manufacturing raised its selling price by total 4,000 yen per tonne. The market price would reach 76,000 yen per tonne sooner or later if the shipment increases. Dealers are likely to cut the lower prices and consolidate the price level before the market price turns upward.