JMB reported that concrete reinforcing steel bar makers around Tokyo plan longer summer time maintenance outage than previous year while they usually stop operation during period with higher electricity cost.

As per report, the base sized rebar makers plan to stop operation for averaged 11 days and maximum 18 days to reduce the production under very slow demand.

A rebar maker official said that the firm tries to improve the supply balance when the rebar sales are very low level. The makers try to improve the supply balance through longer maintenance outage.

(Sourced from www.japanmetalbulletin.com)