Cold Rolled Steel Sheet Price Expected to Rise in Tokyo

Cold rolled steel sheet market price is 74,000-77,000 yen per tonne around Tokyo. Japanese hot, cold and coated sheet steel inventory decreased to 3.54 million tonnes held by makers, distributors and coil centers for domestic shipment at end of June. The supply and demand is tightening. Integrated steel makers are expected to accepted full orders until September.

Coil centers’ sales volume is increasing when the demand is recovering from automobiles and electric appliances though the demand keeps low from building materials. Operation rate of coil centers was below 50% temporarily but approached 60% in June and is expected to more increase.

Coil centers and dealers are advancing price hike thanks to tight supply. Users are resisting to the price hike. However, many coil centers are concerned of the red.