Flat Stainless Steel Plate Price in Tokyo

Stainless steel plate price is flat with strong tone at 320,000 yen per tonne for SUS 304 hot rolled cut plate with 3-6 millimeters thick and 480,000 yen for 7-14 mm thick plate mill products. The dealers try to increase the reselling price when the makers increased the price while the demand remains low.

The dealers’ plate inventory decreased to 31,000 tonnes from the peak of 45,000 tonnes in September 2007. One major dealer source said the demand remains low partly due to order cancel when companies delay and cancel capital expenditure plan. On the other hand, stainless plate demand for vacuum chamber for liquid crystal panel and semiconductor manufacturing equipment is increasing, according to the source. The dealers’ plate sales were 8,000 tonnes in September, around 70% of the peak. However, the shipment is increasing since May.

The users strongly resist the price hike by the dealers. The dealers expect increasing stainless sheet steel supports the plate price increase.