Flat H-beam Price in Tokyo

H-beam price is flat at 75,000-76,000yen per tonne in Tokyo at dealers’ sites without freight for products with 100 x 200 millimeters widths. The shipment keeps stable at the low level since the end of January. The stock seemed to increase slightly at dealers’ sites at the end of March from a month earlier. The price is likely to maintain flat for a while under balanced supply and demand. Dealers expected H-beam stocks would decrease slightly at the end of March from a month ago, while the shipment was not so active as originally expected and the stock seemed to increase as a result. The demand and the market mood are stagnant even after entering April. However, dealers are not so concerned about the present condition watching the positive effect in the market by integrated steel makers’ control for order reception volume. Lead time from order reception to shipment is about 1.4 months at makers. The supply is in the appropriate level. On the other hand, the demand has not clearly recovered yet at dealers. The demand is unlikely to recover soon and the price seems to maintain flat.