H-Beam Price Stops to Drop in Osaka

H-beam market price keeps the level at around 68,000-69,000 yen per tonne for base size in May around Osaka while the market was weak before. The dealers try to adjust the over discounting price. The price is likely to keep the level despite of the very slow demand.

The market price decreased by total 58,000 yen per tonne from the peak due to demand slump since late 2008. Some of the dealers reduced the reselling price to less than 65,000 yen when they expected the makers would reduce the selling price to around 60,000 yen.

However, Tokyo Steel Manufacturing left the price unchanged for June order as May order. The dealers revised the lower price expectation when other makers also kept the price. The dealers started to adjust the too low price while some of them sold at less than 65,000 yen per tonne before.

The dealers’ inventory is thin for wider size range from product for building to civil works. The demand, however, keeps very slow when a steel structural fabricator source said the operation dropped sharply since April and the demand could keep slow at least through the summer.

The H-beam market price couldn’t recover 70,000 yen per tonne level in short term due to the slow demand. A dealer source said the dealers need 70,000 yen level of reselling price to keep profitable while the dealers try to secure shipment at lower price.