The company raised prices for four steel products by up to 1.9% in February to reflect market conditions and rising production costs amid higher raw material prices.

For March, prices of hot rolled coils will remain at 107,000 yen ($713) a ton, while H-shaped beams will stay at 127,000 yen a ton.

Tokyo Steel said in a statement that there are signs of a lull in the rise in overseas steel product prices, especially in the United States, while expectations are high for positive consequences from economic stimulus measures in China.

Meanwhile, construction material activity in Japan continued to be subdued, while demand in the manufacturing segment remained firm, though there are concerns regarding potential stagnation in demand due to production stoppages in automobile-related industries.

Toyota Motor's Daihatsu unit halted shipments of all of its vehicles, Japan's biggest automaker said in December, after a safety investigation found issues involving 64 models, including almost two dozen sold under Toyota's brand.

Earlier this month, Daihatsu resumed some of its production and shipments.

Tokyo Steel's pricing is closely watched by Asian rivals such as South Korea's Posco and Hyundai Steel , and China's Baoshan Iron & Steel Co Ltd (Baosteel).

($1 = 150.0100 yen)

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Sonia Cheema)