Japan H-Beam Export Price Likely to Reach US$ 600/t

Japanese H-beam export price is expected to rise when overseas demand is increasing. Japanese H-beam makers are trying to raise the price in the current negotiations. Japanese integrated steel makers aim to increase H-beam selling price by US$ 80-100 to FOB US$ 600 per tonne for July-September shipment from April-June. The makers have already agreed in the hike with some overseas users.

Overseas H-beam users have offered the purchase price at around US$ 500. Japanese H-beam makers have refrained from export contracts. However, some makers currently seem to have contracted the export at around US$ 600 when H-beam market price is surging at overseas.

Japanese H-beam export maintained low due to high yen exchange rate and global economy downturn, which was below 5,000 tonnes in November 2008 despite of peak 67,077 tonnes in February 2008. The export was approximately 15,000 tonnes in March and 4,300 tonnes in April.

South Korean electric furnace steel makers have recovered their output volume from 3-4 months ago. They are operating for 24 hours. The demand is recovering mainly in North are of South Korea. South Korean users are increasing H-beam import from Japan when the import from China is decreasing.