Japan’s top electric-arc furnace steelmaker Tokyo Steel Manufacturing 
5423 will leave steel product prices unchanged in September, it said on Monday, to help the market bottom out after a period of demand weakness.
It marks the fourth consecutive month without a price change for steel products, including its main H-shaped beams.
In September, prices for steel bars, including rebar, will remain at 85,000 yen ($577) a metric ton, while H-shaped beams will stay at 112,000 yen ($760) a ton.
Domestically, construction steel activity remains weak due to a persistent labour shortage and restricted working hours, while steel shipments in the manufacturing industry remain slow as the market assesses the impact of U.S. tariffs, the company said.
While U.S. tariff negotiations with several countries are progressing, the steel market remains cautious as no deal has been reached with China.
Political instability, regional conflicts, and protectionist measures are also adding to uncertainty in the steel market, the company said in a statement.
Tokyo Steel’s pricing is closely watched by Asian rivals such as South Korea’s Posco 
005490 and Hyundai Steel 
004020, and China’s Baoshan Iron & Steel Co Ltd (Baosteel) 
600019.
($1 = 147.4100 yen)
AloJapan.com