Weak Plate Steel Price in Osaka

Plate steel market price is weak at around 87,000 yen per tonne for standard sized products with 19 millimeters thick, 5 feet width and 10 feet length and at around 95,000-100,000 yen for cut processed materials around Osaka.

Dealers’ shipment is dull. The demand stays low from building constructions. A shearing processor source said small-middle size building constructions were significantly stagnant in November compared with October. Small and middle steel framers currently hold few order backlogs. Public works are actually stopped.

Shearing processors’ inventory is decreasing for construction machines compared with the first half of fiscal 2009 (April-September). However, the recovery is so slight to cover the total shipment shrinkage.

Dealers’ inventory adjustment is slowing down due to even low shipment. Market inventory seems surplus especially for standardized products for building materials. The market price is expected to keep downward.