Kyoei Steel, Japan's largest rebar producer, announced Thursday that it would keep its rebar prices unchanged for June contracts. Osaka-based Kyoei does not reveal its list price, but current market price of base-sized rebar in Osaka was around Yen 67,000-68,000/mt ($611-620/mt), unchanged from a month ago, while in Tokyo it was around Yen 73,000-74,000/mt, up Yen 2,000/mt, sources said. Kyoei said that despite higher costs of alloy, electrodes as well as freight charges have been increasing largely, it would maintain its prices for June. The company would monitor the market before announcing its prices for July, it added. The steelmaker last hiked its rebar prices by Yen 3,000/mt. A Tokyo-based construction steel trader said that rebar producers were eyeing Yen 75,000/mt amid higher production costs. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has forecast Japan's small bar demand from the construction sector in June to fall 5% on the year to 600,000 mt, which would be, however, 11% higher from May.