Square Steel Pipe Price Stays Flat in Tokyo

The market price of middle-sized carbon steel square pipe is flat at 93,000 yen per tonne for products with 2.3 mm thick and 100 x 100 widths and at 102,000 yen per tonne for colored products of same size. Shipment is dull at dealers’ sites when demand becomes seasonally low in April-June. Additionally there are few construction projects of middle and small buildings. Demand recovery is slower than expected and trading is not active in the market. Distributor source said they except demand recovery after summer when some construction demand is scheduled. Welded steel pipe makers are forced to reduce their production with order decrease from dealers. Supply and demand is balanced consequently. Distributors strengthen their sales stances and sustain the price level. Steel sheet supply is recently recovering in the market which is the material for square steel pipe. Zinc price still maintains high. The market price is unforeseeable with both positive and negative factors.