Japan 300-series stainless CR sheet prices to up further

In Japan, dealers' prices of 300-series stainless cold-rolled (CR) sheet have shown signs of strengthening, as distributors are expected to lift their offering prices by another Yen 10,000/tonne ($87.6/t) by the end of December, to reflect price hikes by producers, market sources in Tokyo shared the observation.

As of December 15, SUS304 2mm CR cut sheets were being transacted at Yen 450,000/t in the spot market in Tokyo, up Yen 10,000/t on month, sources confirmed. A Tokyo-based stainless steel distributor confirmed that spot market prices have been rising though more slowly than the producers' hikes, as Japan's