Weak Stainless Plate Price in Tokyo

Stainless steel plate market price keeps decreasing around Tokyo. The price is around 280,000-300,000 yen per tonne for SUS304 hot rolled coil cut plate and at around 460,000 yen for plate mill products. Dealers’ sipping keeps low. Dealers’ inventory adjustment is progressing, but their sales are low. Some dealers are selling at low price.

Shearing processors’ sales volume is very low. The amount of the sales for hot rolled plate decreased to 6,014 tonnes by over 50% in April from the peak level in October-December 2006, according to shearing processor association.

A maker source said overseas users are increasing the order of the plate to Japanese makers. Domestic demand is continuing to be low. Anticipation of a fall is flagging when nickel price slightly decreasing to the middle of US$ 5 per pound.