Rebar Price Maintains Flat with Firm Tone in Tokyo

The market price of concrete reinforcing steel bar kept the level of 58,000 yen per tonne in Tokyo for the products with 19 millimeters diameter toward the new fiscal year started April 2006. The order amount from general contractors seemed to increase by 30,000 tonnes to above 300,000 tonnes around Tokyo area in March from February. The shipment pace recovered to the ordinary level after the shipment delay in February due to the falsification problem of building earthquake resistance. Both dealers and distributors are strengthening the marketing approach in April, though there were some contracts with cheaper prices when the shipment was low. Rebar market price was around 58,000 yen per tonne at the beginning of 2006 and maintained the level during January-March when the demand becomes stagnant seasonally. Electric furnace steel makers controlled their output volume to the market demand level in the period. Additionally dealers and distributors made effort to improve the low price.