Angle, Channel Price Drops by 2,000 yen/t in Tokyo

Market price of angle and channel decreased by 2,000 yen per tonne around Tokyo in the week. The price is 83,000 yen for equal angle and 88,000 yen for channel, which is the level in February 2008. The buyers try to reduce the price after Osaka Steel reduced the selling price by 15,000 yen. The market price could decrease more when the dealers follow the market trend.

The market interests expect the makers could decrease the selling price more when ferrous scrap market price decreased to less than 20,000 yen level. Tokyo Steel Manufacturing already offers 67,000 yen per tonne for channel steel.

The dealers try to minimize the order to makers with expectation for lower price. The dealers’ shipment decreases in March from February and the dealers expect the demand is likely to keep low level in and after April. The dealers try to keep low level inventory under slow demand.

Some dealers expect angle steel could decrease more when the price is more than H-beam while the price is usually lower than H-beam. Such price balance with other steel products is also factor for potential lower price.