NSSC Raises Ni Series Wire Rod Price by 30,000 Yen/t for March-May

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation (NSSC) announced on Monday the firm raises selling price of nickel series stainless steel wire rod by 30,000 yen per tonne for March-May order from the previous three months. The firm reflects nickel market price upsurge of US$ 1.53 per pound from December 21 to March 25 from the previous three months (September 26-December 20). NSSC raises selling price of nickel series stainless steel wire rod for 2 quarters in a row. As for chrome series wire rod, the firm leaves the price unchanged.

The firm also revises grade extra depending on nickel and alloy contents. For instance, the firm raises the charge by 35,000 yen per tonne for SUSXM7S and SUS303, by 45,000 yen for SUS316 and by 65,000 yen for SUS310S.

NSSC also announced on Monday the firm’s Kashima works would partly revive some functions, such as washing, on the bright annealing furnace by mid April. Meanwhile, the firm estimates recovery of the line in late July 2011 because full replacement of electrically-heated wires on the furnace is needed.

Kashima works restarted marine transportation shipment on March 26 and operation of the skin-pass mill on March 27. NSSC is currently checking conditions on the cold rolling mills and the annealing and pickling facilities in order to restart the operations as soon as possible.