Japanese mills raising domestic prices for June flats

摘要

Demand from traders and end-users (including car makers) remains strong in the Japanese domestic market for flats. Stable interest in purchases coupled with a $37-62/t gain in prices for all kinds of flats to distributors (JPY 3-5/kg at $1 = JPY 80.03), successfully implemented by JFE Steel and Nippon Steel in the second half of April, has given other Japanese plants hope for an increase. Thus, Kobe Steel has raised domestic offers of flats for June production by $62/t (JPY 5/kg) compared to prices for May output.