Weak Price of Coated Steel Sheet in Tokyo

The market price of coated steel sheet is decreasing. The price is at 90,000-91,000 yen per tonne in Tokyo for electro galvanized sheet based on hot-rolled sheet with 2.3 millimeters of thickness, 3 feet of width and 6 feet of length. Dealers cannot reduce their surplus inventories with few orders from users. Cheaper imports also weaken the market mood.Some dealers say the shipment of coated steel sheet maintains weak since January and some say the shipment turned to decrease after mid-January. The shipment is still stagnant in February. Medium and small sized users and secondary wholesalers purchase the products just as much as immediate needs at the cheaper price some dealers offer.The supply of coated steel sheet is easy especially for products substitutable with imported coils. The wholesale price is weaker than the selling price of integrated steel makers. Coil centers and dealers aim to keep the present price level for the profits and under the integrated steels’ policies. However, they barely sustain the bottom price in fact under the severe competition with imports. The market price might decrease till the surplus inventories are reduced at dealers’ sites.