AISI/UNS 405 stainless steel coils in mid-2025 trade at substantially lower levels than austenitic grades (304/316) but remain sensitive to base-steel and alloying-metal movements; typical bulk ranges observed across sample supplier lists and market indices fall roughly between USD $1,000–3,000 per tonne (≈ $1.0–3.0/kg) depending on region, coil finish (hot-rolled or cold-rolled), order size, and short-term surcharges — with China and India generally on the low end and North America/Europe showing higher landed and duty-affected pricing.
What is 405 stainless steel?
405 is a ferritic stainless steel (part of the 400 family) with nominal chromium content near ~11–13% Cr and little or no nickel. It was developed for applications requiring weldability in a low-cost chromium-bearing material. Because it is ferritic, it is magnetic in the annealed state and does not harden by quenching (work hardening and cold forming are the main strengthening routes).
Key mechanical and physical properties — what affects coil price
Important properties that buyers should know:
-
Corrosion resistance: Lower than 300-series (304, 316) but acceptable for mildly corrosive and high-temperature applications.
-
Weldability: Specifically engineered to be used in the as-welded condition, making it attractive for welded fabrications.
-
Formability: Good formability and ductility in annealed state; can be cold-worked to increase hardness.
-
Magnetism: Ferritic — magnetic in annealed/cold state.
-
Temperature behaviour: Stable ferritic structure; not prone to large hardening through air cooling from high temperatures (different from some other 12% Cr steels).
These metallurgical attributes matter to pricing because 405 contains less expensive alloying (no nickel), so raw-material cost is lower, and less complex processing (no expensive solution-anneal cycles for some forms) can reduce mill charges.
Standards, designations and common equivalents
Common identifiers and specs buyers will see on RFQs and mill certificates:
-
UNS S40500 (widely used).
-
EN / DIN: 1.4002 (X6CrAl13 or similar equivalents in some tables).
-
ASME/ASTM references for sheet/plate/tube forms (you may see ASME SA-240 / ASTM A240 used for plate/sheet variants).
When specifying, use the UNS/EN number plus the exact product form (cold-rolled coil, hot-rolled coil, slit coil) and mechanical/chemical limits.
Why 405 is priced differently from 300-series stainless
Three structural reasons cause 405 to be cheaper:
-
No (or negligible) nickel content. Nickel is the most expensive constituent in common stainless grades; removing it reduces material cost.
-
Lower alloy content overall (ferritic 12% Cr base) — chromium is still a cost factor but typically less than nickel additions.
-
Simpler processing route for many coil forms (no expensive nitrogen or Mo additions, and sometimes simpler finishing) — which reduces mill-processing premiums.
Because of the above, market indexes and supplier lists consistently show 400-series cold/hot coils at materially lower per-kg values than widely traded 304 or 316. See price indices and listed suppliers below for samples.
Main applications that generate demand for 405 coils
We commonly see 405 coils used for:
-
Heat-treatment fixtures (annealing boxes, quench racks).
-
High-temperature ducting and steam nozzles where a moderate oxidation resistance and good weldability are needed.
-
General fabrication where magnetism is not an issue and cost is sensitive (appliance frames, some architectural trim).
-
Automotive or equipment parts that are welded and don’t require high pitting resistance.
Demand concentration in these segments affects seasonal procurement and inventory strategies for mills and traders.
Supply chain & product forms
Common coil/product forms and how they change price:
-
Hot-rolled coil (HR): Usually the cheapest per tonne but with wider thickness tolerance and surface finish variation.
-
Cold-rolled coil (CR / CRC): Higher per-kg price due to closer tolerances, better surface finish; often chosen for appliance or overlay applications.
-
Slit coil / slit to width: Adds slit charges and coil re-handling premiums.
-
Cut-to-length / pickled & oiled / surface finish (2B, BA, No.1): Each affects mill downstream charges.
When you request a price, specify: thickness range, width, inner/outer diameter, weight per coil, finish, certification (e.g., EN/ASTM), and packaging requirements — that reduces hidden surcharges.
Primary cost drivers for 405 coil pricing in 2025
We track the following drivers that materially influenced 2025 prices:
-
Base steel production costs and scrap prices (ferrous scrap available to mills).
-
Chromium and alloy raw-material availability and cost. (Chromium moves less violently than nickel but still matters.)
-
Energy & electricity prices in producing regions (affects hot/cold rolling energy intensity).
-
Freight, shipping delays and container rates.
-
Trade measures and tariffs (recent tariff actions in 2025 materially affected landed costs in North America).
Macro news (trade policy) and regional supply/demand imbalances caused mid-2025 price dispersion between Asia, India and the US/EU.
Global price comparison — mid-2025 sample ranges
Note: stainless coil pricing varies by grade, finish and order size. The table aggregates public supplier listings and price indices sampled in H1–mid-2025; treat the values as ballpark ranges (FOB or domestic mill level), not firm offers. Always request a mill COA and recent mill quotes.
| Region | Representative price range (per tonne) | Equivalent per kg (approx) | Source / sample evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (bulk mill/wholesale) | USD $1,000 – $3,000 / t | $1.0 – $3.0 / kg | Chinese supplier lists & trading platforms (bulk FOB examples). |
| India (domestic trader listings) | USD $1,800 – $2,600 / t (≈ INR 140–200/kg) | $1.8 – $2.6 / kg | TradeIndia and local stockist price samples (e.g., INR 200/kg listings). |
| Southeast Asia (export samples) | USD $1,100 – $2,500 / t | $1.1 – $2.5 / kg | Regional supplier listings & export FOB samples. |
| North America (index/wholesale) | USD $1,800 – $2,300 / t (higher for CRC/finished) | $1.8 – $2.3 / kg | MEPS price tables and US cold-rolled coil indices; tariffs and duties can raise landed cost. |
| Europe (mill/wholesale, duty & VAT vary) | €1,200 – €2,200 / t | €1.2 – €2.2 / kg | Regional market pressure, importer inventories and duties. MEPS world index covers comparative bands. |
How to read this table (practical): small orders, special finishes, nitrogen or molybdenum-free certificates, or urgent shipments often sit at the high end. Very large tenders (≥50–200 tonnes) and long lead times can access the low end.
Market signals & 2025 observations
-
Asia remains the price-leader for volume supply; Chinese mills continue to set the near-term floor for 400-series coils because of large output and low labour/manufacturing costs. Supplier listing samples show sub-$2/kg offers for bulk HR/CR coils in many Chinese portals.
-
North America shows higher landed costs driven by trade protection measures and local mill pricing power — buyers should expect higher local quotes and occasionally extra lead time if mills prioritise domestic contracts. Reuters coverage of 2025 tariffs explains how policy nudges domestic prices upward.
-
Price indices (MEPS, market bulletins) are the best way to benchmark quick market checks; they regularly publish per-kg/tonne curves by grade and region. For contract negotiation, align your RFQ to the same index (e.g., “MEPS Asia CRC 430 equivalent”) for transparent referencing.
How to request quotes — specification checklist (what we always include)
When you ask vendors for price on 405 coils, include the following in the RFQ:
-
UNS / EN designation (UNS S40500 / 1.4002) and product spec (e.g., ASTM A240 if relevant).
-
Product form: HR coil / CR coil / slit coil / cut-to-length.
-
Thickness range, width range and coil ID/OD.
-
Surface finish (2B, BA, No.1, No.4, pickled & oiled).
-
Coil weight, minimum order quantity and delivery Incoterm (FOB / CIF / DDP).
-
Required certification (mill test report EN 10204 3.1, PMI checks etc.).
-
Packing, destination port and any special handling.
A clear RFQ reduces negotiation rounds and hidden surcharges.
Quality, inspection and common test items we recommend
We recommend buyers insist on:
-
Chemical analysis (mill certificate with composition limits).
-
Mechanical test results (tensile, yield, elongation).
-
Surface finish acceptance criteria (scratches, scale removal, pickling).
-
Non-destructive testing where application warrants (eddy current for thin coil).
-
Traceability to heat/coil number.
If the supplier is unfamiliar, request a small test coil first to validate finish and formability.
Storage, handling and forming notes
-
Store coils dry and off concrete to avoid contact corrosion.
-
Minimise cold work prior to final forming if corrosion resistance is critical — excessive cold work on ferritic steels can reduce ductility and change local properties.
-
For welding keep proper filler selection and pre/post-weld practices; 405 is chosen often because it performs well in welded assemblies without complex post-heat treatments.
Sustainability, tariffs and regulatory risks
-
Tariffs and trade policy: 2025 has shown that policy can change landed price materially — always check current duties for your importing country at time of RFQ. Reuters reported tariff actions that produced near-term price shifts in 2025.
-
Scrap recovery & carbon intensity: Some buyers prefer mills with transparent recycled content and CO₂ disclosures; such premiums may be applied by mills with verified low-carbon processes.
Procurement checklist
-
Confirm exact UNS/EN designation and product form.
-
Choose indexing method (spot vs index-linked contract). MEPS or other independent index is useful.
-
Request minimum 3 independent quotes (local mill/trader/exporter).
-
Check lead times and logistics (container availability, port congestion).
-
Confirm test certificates and inspection rights.
-
If price is the main driver, negotiate minimum order size—larger lots move to lower per-kg brackets.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Is 405 stainless coil a good substitute for 304 if I want to cut costs?
A: Not in corrosive environments. 405 is cost-effective where corrosion is mild and weldability is important, but it lacks the general corrosion and pitting resistance of 304/316. Use application risk assessment before substitution.
Q2. How much cheaper is 405 compared with 304 in 2025?
A: On average, 405 (and other 400-series ferritics) trade significantly below 304/316 — often tens of percent cheaper on a per-tonne basis — but the exact gap depends on regional scrap, chromium and nickel spreads. Check local index and supplier quotes.
Q3. What delivery forms should I request for minimal processing cost?
A: Bulk hot-rolled coils (HR) are cheapest; cold-rolled and finished coils cost more. Slitting and special finishes add to price. Specify what you actually need — over-specing adds avoidable cost.
Q4. Are there any special welding considerations for 405?
A: 405 was designed for as-welded use; standard shielded fusion techniques work well. Avoid oxyacetylene welding and follow recommended filler metals to prevent local embrittlement.
Q5. Where can I benchmark real market prices quickly?
A: Industry indices (MEPS, MetalMiner, SanmeiMetal bulletins) and major trading portals (made-in-china/Alibaba/TradeIndia) are practical starting points. For contract pricing, use an independent index referenced in the RFQ.
