Nippon Steel and JFE Steel Raise Sheet Prices Amid Rising Costs

Nippon Steel and JFE Steel Sheet Price Hikes Respond to Cost Pressures

Nippon Steel and JFE Steel announced price increases for domestic sheet steel amid rising costs.
The move reflects higher raw material prices, logistics, and operating expenses.

Nippon Steel raised prices by 10,000 yen per ton ($63/t) for thin-gauge rolled steel.
The increase affects hot-rolled black sheet, pickled, cold-rolled, and coated products supplied to distributors and secondary processors.

JFE Steel followed with a similar 10,000 yen per ton increase for flat steel.
Price adjustments apply primarily to industrial users, including pipe and light structural profile manufacturers.
Automotive sectors with long-term contracts remain exempt.

Meanwhile, group subsidiaries Nippon Steel Building Materials and Nippon Steel Plate are evaluating similar price adjustments.
The price hikes mark the first significant increases for these products since March 2024.

Regional and Global Trends in Steel Pricing

Other major Asian steelmakers also respond to cost pressures.
Baoshan Iron & Steel Co increased domestic HRC prices by 200 yuan per ton ($29/t) for April deliveries.

Rising raw material costs, including iron ore and scrap, continue to impact production economics.
Logistics and energy costs amplify pricing pressures in both domestic and export markets.

These coordinated price increases suggest broader trends across the steel industry.
Steelmakers aim to maintain margins while balancing customer demand and contract obligations.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Rising sheet steel prices from Nippon Steel and JFE Steel highlight ongoing cost inflation in Asia’s steel markets.
Companies must balance operational sustainability with customer relations, especially for long-term industrial contracts.
Global steel producers, including China’s Baosteel, indicate that cost-driven price adjustments are likely to continue, affecting downstream manufacturing and supply chains worldwide.