Weak Flat Bar Price in Tokyo

Flat bar market price is weak at around 90,000-95,000 yen per tonne for product with 5 millimeters thick and 50 mm width at the dealers’ site around Tokyo. The buyers still try to get lower price and the dealers are forced to reduce the reselling price under slow demand for building and machinery. The price could decrease more despite of the maker’s price hike attempt.

Many dealers completed the inventory adjustment but the supply is dull due to very slow demand. The dealers have some stock out sizes but the dealers are still cautious to rebuild the inventory when the users including machinery makers still have overstock under the very low level operation.

Oji Steel announced the price hike attempt for September order. Some dealers try to keep the reselling price level. However, other dealers still try to get order with lower price and some transaction price is as low as 85,000 yen per tonne. H-beam and other long products’ decreasing price move also impacts on the flat bar price.