End-August port stocks of carbon flats rise in Japan

The stocks of imported hot-rolled and cold-rolled carbon steel coils and heavy plates at Japan's two main ports of Tokyo and Osaka at end-August totaled 127,000 tonnes, higher by 2,000 tonnes or 1.6% from end-July and marked the first increase in four months, new data released by Japanese trading house Hanwa Co show. But the rise is a mere hiccup in a long declining trend that mirrors the fall in imports generally.

Within the total, stocks on the three items portside in Osaka were higher by 1,000 tonnes on month at 92,000 tonnes, and those sitting at Tokyo wharves awaiting collection had also increased by 1,000 tonnes to 35,000 tonnes, Hanwa's statistics show. Historically, Osaka has always been the larger conduit