H-Beam Price Drops by 3,000Y/T around Tokyo

H-beam market price around Tokyo decreased by about 3,000 yen to 80,000 yen per tonne for base size by Monday. Nippon Steel set the price unchanged. However, the buyers would increase the pressure for price cut when Tokyo Steel Manufacturing announced the firm reduces the beam price by 5,000 yen per tonne for April order. The price would decline more under the weak demand. Section steels market price declined by around 3,000 yen to 85,000 yen for equal-angle and to 90,000 yen channel.

The inquiries to the dealers are around 10% less in March than in February while the demand is unforeseeable not only for small-and-mid-sized building but also for large sized building. The demand for section steels would decrease more when many building plans are canceled and postponed.

The procurement of the buyers is at lower level when they expect more sections price decline while the ferrous scrap price stays at 17,000-18,000 yen per tonne. The buyers should seek lower offer based on the Tokyo Steel’s selling price at 68,000 yen per tonne for H-beam and 67,000 yen for angle.