Affected by slowdown of construction industry and decreased scrap prices, the prices of deformed steel bars have become soft in these two weeks.

At present, the selling prices of deformed steel bars are at ￥53,000~￥54,000/ton in Tokyo market; that in Osaka market is at ￥49,000~￥50,000/ton, falling by ￥2,000~￥3,000/ton respectively from two weeks ago.

Industry source said that the buyers have taken wait-and-see position as they forecasted the continuously decreased scrap prices may lead the deformed steel bar prices to slide further.