Japan’s Kobe Steel raises prices on long products

Japanese steelmaker Kobe Steel has announced a price increase of more than 10,000 yen per ton ($63/t) for wire rod and steel bars in both domestic and export markets, according to Japan Metal Daily.

The price increase takes effect starting with April sales and applies to all product categories, including special steel and high-carbon wire rod. The price change covers all consumer segments.

Kobe Steel has raised prices for these products for the first time in the past two years. The decision reflects the continuous rise in raw material costs, as well as increased expenses for auxiliary materials, logistics, maintenance, and labor. The company stated that these factors are difficult to offset solely through internal cost-control measures and emphasized the need for price increases.

The company also highlighted its ongoing efforts to strengthen its production base to ensure a stable supply of high-quality products, while simultaneously improving its ability to respond to customer demands.

As a reminder, Tokyo Steel recently announced a price increase for its steel products for April sales due to rising raw material costs. Prices for hot-rolled coils (1.7–22 mm) will rise by 7,000 yen per ton ($44/t) compared to the previous month, and prices for rebar and sections will increase by 5,000 yen/t ($31/t).

Domestic demand in Japan remains cautious amid uncertainty regarding future construction activity in some regions, and delays in the transition to higher price levels are slowing market activity.