Japanese H-beam Inventory Continues to Increase in February

H-beam inventory held by the members of Tokiwa-kai, which is a dealers’ group dealing Nippon Steel’s products, increased by 7.4% to 188,300 tonnes at the end of February from January, according to Nippon Steel. The inventory increased for three months in a row. The inventory to shipment was 2.33 months, increasing by 0.23 points from a month earlier. Nippon Steel emphasized the market inventory is seriously higher than the demand and it is necessary to strengthen the supply control.

Nippon Steel gave an overview that domestic construction market hit the bottom. However, H-beam shipment by Tokiwa-kai members decreased in the non-demand season and under the users’ expectation for H-beam market price down. The shipment decreased by 3.2% to 80,800 tonnes in February from a month ago and hit the lowest in a year. The daily shipment decreased by 800 tonnes to 3,800 tonnes. Meanwhile, H-beam delivery to the dealers increased by 9.7% to 93,700 tonnes and marked the highest volume since March 2011.

H-beam inventory in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas increased by 8.1% to 114,500 tonnes. H-beam delivery increased by 15% to 59,200 tonnes while the shipment decreased by 1.2% to 50,600 tonnes. The inventory to shipment was 2.26 months, increasing by 0.19 points.

In other eight areas, Sapporo, Tohoku, Toyama, Shizuoka, Shikoku, Chugoku and Kyusyu, H-beam inventory increased by 6.2% to 73,800 tonnes. H-beam delivery increased by 1.8% to 34,500 tonnes while the shipment decreased by 6.5% to 30,200 tonnes. The inventory to shipment was 2.44 months, worsening by 0.29 points.