ASTM A213 stainless-steel tubes remain premium, application-specific products in 2025 — priced significantly above commodity stainless sheet/coil because of their seamless manufacture, tighter tolerances, and boiler-/heat-exchanger qualifications. Typical market ranges for common ASTM A213 grades (TP304/TP316 family) in 2025 run from roughly US$1,200–3,500 per tonne depending on grade, finish, and region; project quantities, test certificates and delivery terms materially change landed cost.
What ASTM A213 covers
ASTM A213 / ASME SA213 is the standard specification for seamless ferritic and austenitic alloy-steel boiler, superheater, and heat-exchanger tubes. It lists designated material grades (for example T5, TP304, TP316 etc.), minimum wall thicknesses, dimensional ranges, and the mechanical and testing requirements required for high-temperature or pressure service. The standard is intended for critical thermal-service tubing rather than general-purpose plumbing pipe.
Why ASTM A213 tubes cost more than commodity stainless pipe
We treat A213 tubes as engineered components, not commodity tubing. Reasons price is higher:
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Seamless manufacture (not merely welded): seamless forming and heat treatment require more energy and skilled production.
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Tighter chemical & mechanical controls: A213 often requires tighter control of elements and heat treatment for creep/rupture properties.
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Post-processing and surface finish: pickling, annealing, straightening and precision OD/ID control add cost.
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Testing & documentation: hardness/tensile tests, flattening, nondestructive examination, and traceable mill test reports increase per-unit overhead.
Common grades and typical chemistry
The austenitic stainless grades commonly ordered under A213 are TP304 / TP304L / TP316 / TP316L / TP321 / TP347 and their H or modified forms when higher creep/rupture strength is needed. Ferritic and low-alloy grades (T5, T9, T11, T22, T91, etc.) appear in alloy versions of the same standard for high-temperature steam work. For heat-exchanger and boiler tubing the TP304/TP316 families are the most common stainless choices.
Manufacture, finishes and tests that impact price
Key process steps that commonly add to cost:
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Seamless hot-finished or cold-finished production (A213 prescribes both options). Cold-drawn tubes have tighter tolerances but higher unit cost.
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Annealing and pickling for stainless grades to remove scale (A213 requires pickling unless bright annealed).
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Mechanical & metallurgical testing (tensile, hardness, chemical analysis, flattening, flaring). These tests are often performed per lot and reported on a Mill Test Report (MTR).
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Optional NDT (eddy current, ultrasonic) for critical tube runs — adds both time and cost.
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Cold drawing, straightening and precision cutting required for heat-exchanger tube bundles.
Typical sizes, tolerances & design limits
ASTM A213 covers tubes with internal diameters starting at ~1/8″ (3.2 mm) up to several inches (common mill ranges up to 5″ OD in the written standard, though producers supply larger sizes when agreed). Wall thicknesses commonly referenced run from 0.015″ to 0.500″ (≈0.4 to 12.7 mm) unless otherwise specified in the order. Buyers specify OD, wall thickness, length and whether hot-finished/cold-drawn.
How A213 differs from A269 / A312
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A213/SA213: focused on seamless boiler, superheater and heat-exchanger tubes with grades and heat-treat variations for high-temperature service (includes alloy and stainless grades).
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A269: covers seamless and welded austenitic stainless steel tubing for general corrosion-resisting and low/high temperature service (often sanitary/pipework).
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A312: covers welded and seamless stainless steel pipe for general pressure applications (pipe, not specifically boiler tubes).
For boiler or high-temperature heat-exchanger service we usually specify A213 (or ASME SA213), not A269/A312.
Market drivers that set 2025 pricing
In 2025, prices reflect a combination of:
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Alloying metal prices (nickel and molybdenum impact 304 vs 316). Nickel directionality since 2022–2025 is a major cost component.
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Regional milling capacity and domestic output (China mills supply large volumes at bulk CNF pricing; Europe and North America have higher mill and labor costs).
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Surcharges that mills apply for alloy content (monthly or quarterly) — Outokumpu and other mills publish surcharges that move per market.
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Logistics & freight (ocean freight and container availability), and local taxes/VAT/duties.
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Quality and paperwork: certified MTRs, third-party inspection, and special non-destructive testing increase the final delivered price.
Global price comparison (representative ranges for 2025)
Notes on the table: prices vary by size, thickness, mill, finish, quantity and Incoterms. The figures below are representative market ranges compiled from mill and distributor price lists and reflect typical commercial quotes in mid-2025. Use them as planning-level guidance; always request firm quotes with MTR and delivery terms.
| Region | Typical grades quoted | Representative price (per tonne) | Representative price (per kg) | Source / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China (export mills) | TP304 / TP316 (seamless) | US$1,650–2,550 / MT | US$1.65–2.55 / kg | Supplier listings and marketplace quotes show wide competitive ranges for seamless pipes. |
| India (distributors & mills) | 304 / 316 (welded & seamless) | US$1,800–3,200 / MT | US$1.8–3.2 / kg | Indian distributor lists and price pages (retail and wholesale) show prices often higher than Chinese mill export for small orders. |
| USA (service centers / retail) | 304 schedule pipe (welded/seamless) | US$2,500–4,500 / MT (retail examples vary) | US$2.5–4.5 / kg | U.S. retail/small-quantity listings show higher per-kg prices vs bulk import tonnage. Example product pricing for 1-ft sections illustrates this. |
| EU (delivered, service center) | 304 / 316 coils & pipe | €2,300–3,680 / MT (~US$2,600–4,200 / MT) | ~US$2.6–4.2 / kg | Independent market reports (Fastmarkets/MEPS) show grade-dependent delivered prices; 316 remains above 304. |
| Specialist/high-end (heat-exchanger grade 316L, pickled, MTR, small qty) | TP316L (seamless, small MOQ) | US$10,000–15,000 / MT (project/heat-exchanger specific quotes appear) | US$10–15 / kg | Some specialized suppliers quoting fully finished, fully-certified, small-lot heat-exchanger tubing price significantly higher — project pricing. |
Interpretation: Bulk export tonnage from large Chinese mills frequently gives the lowest per-ton landed cost, but once you add pickling, small-lot fabrication, third-party testing and freight & duties, the landed per-kg cost for a project delivered to Europe/North America can be multiple times the mill basic price.
Price example calculations
We work with customers to convert ton or kg quotes into per-metre / per-foot costs. Example for 304 seamless schedule (rough calculation):
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A typical 2″ SCH 40 304 pipe weighs ~3.6 kg/m (check exact OD/WT). If a buyer pays US$2.50/kg, then cost ≈ US$9 per metre (material only). Add cutting, testing, freight and markup for distributor to get landed cost. Retail service center pricing for larger lengths will show significantly higher per-foot prices. Use exact weight-per-metre tables to convert any per-kg quote to per-metre. (Retail listings such as MetalsDepot give concrete per-length prices to validate.)
Buying checklist (what to specify in your A213 order)
When you request a quote, always specify:
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Standard & revision: ASTM A213 / ASME SA213 and revision year if required.
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Grade: e.g., TP316L, TP304H, or an alloy grade (T22, T91).
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OD × wall (or ID), length or cut-to-length tolerance, and whether ends must be plain/rounded/cleared.
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Finish & heat treatment: hot-finished, cold-drawn, annealed, pickled, bright-annealed.
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Testing & certificates: MTR (EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2), NDT (eddy/UT), tensile/hardness, PMI.
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Quantity and Incoterm: price per tonne vs price, FOB/CIF/DDP changes the landed cost dramatically.
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Third-party inspection: whether buyer will require a third-party inspector to witness tests.
Being precise in the RFQ avoids hidden fees (special finishing, re-cutting, or rejected lots).
Quality assurance & documentation
We frequently see these documents requested on A213 orders:
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Mill Test Report (MTR) — chemistry & mechanical tests traceable to heat number.
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Certificate of Compliance to ASTM A213 (with revision year).
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NDT reports (if specified) — eddy current for heat-exchanger tubing.
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Packing list & material traceability (heat number stamped on tube bundle).
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Special inspection reports (third-party agency witness tests) for project or critical plant work.
Applications & lifecycle cost considerations
Common A213 uses include boiler tubes, superheaters, reheaters, and shell-and-tube heat exchangers — environments where high temperature or thermal cycling require enhanced metallurgy and traceable QA. While initial material cost is higher, lifecycle savings come from longer service life, fewer shutdowns and lower failure risk. For project costing we recommend modeling total installed cost (material + testing + downtime risk) not only first-cost per tonne.
FAQs
1) Is ASTM A213 the same as ASME SA213?
Yes — ASME SA213 is the ASME designation equivalent to ASTM A213; buyers often see both labels used for the same material specification. Make sure the revision year or edition is specified in the PO.
2) Which grade should I pick for seawater heat exchangers?
For seawater and chloride-rich environments we usually prefer higher alloy grades (e.g., 316L over 304) or duplex/super-austenitic alloys depending on velocity and temperature. Corrosion engineering assessment is recommended for long service life.
3) Why does a seamless A213 tube cost more than an A312 pipe of similar size?
A213 tube is produced and qualified for boiler/heat-exchanger service with stricter requirements and often on a seamless production route; A312 covers a broader set of pressure-pipe applications, including welded options that can be cheaper in bulk.
4) How do I convert a per-ton quote to per-metre cost?
Use the exact weight per metre for the specified OD and wall thickness (weight tables are standard). Convert the quoted US$/tonne to US$/kg, multiply by weight per metre. Add fabrication, cutting, packaging and freight to get landed per-metre cost.
5) Are published online prices reliable for procurement?
Online price lists are useful for benchmarking and planning but rarely replace a formal, quantity-specific quote with defined finish, tests and Incoterms. For procurement, request a firm quotation with MTR commitment and delivery schedule.
