Decreased Structural Steel Bar Price in Tokyo

Structural steel market price decreased by 5,000 yen to 130,000 yen per tonne for carbon steel bar applied to machine structural use and at around 1550,000 yen for chrome and molybdenum steel bar in December from November around Tokyo. Japanese automobile output decreased per day due to closure of eco-car subsidy grant. The demand for machinery component slowed down. The market price seems to maintain low level.

Dealers’ shipment volume is decreasing by around 10% compared with a half year earlier, a dealer source said. Large-lot orders are slightly decreasing while small-lot orders relatively maintains firm, according to another dealer source.

Demand for export or specific users keeps stable. Carbon steel bar makers maintains stable output level supported by slightly weakening yen rate.. Raw material prices seem to rise such for ferrous scrap toward the end of March 2011. The market price is sustained by these positive factors.