440C stainless-steel coil in 2025 remains a specialty, martensitic product priced well above commodity flat products in many markets. Expect wide regional spreads (driven by mill supply, coil finish, thickness, MOQ and heat-treatment state) — indicative 2025 ranges run roughly USD 1,100–3,500 per metric ton at factory / mill-level in China and USD 2,500–5,500 per metric ton in export markets (Europe / North America) for standard cold-rolled coils in small/medium quantities; finished, hardened, or specialty-surface coils command higher premiums. These figures are indicative — final prices depend on lots of variables explained below.
What is 440C?
440C (UNS S44004, commonly referred to as AISI 440C or SUS440C) is a high carbon, high chromium martensitic stainless steel engineered for maximum hardness and wear resistance among commonly available stainless grades. Typical nominal composition includes roughly 0.95–1.20% C, 16–18% Cr, ~0.7% Mo (varies by spec). It can be heat-treated to very high hardness (over 57–60 HRC) which makes it useful for bearings, cutlery, valve seats and wear parts.
Key mechanical & corrosion properties
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Hardness potential: After hardening and tempering, 440C reaches some of the highest hardnesses achievable in stainless steels (~58–60 HRC).
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Wear resistance: High carbon content makes it wear-resistant — preferred where sliding wear matters.
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Corrosion resistance: Moderate — better than plain carbon steels but lower than austenitics like 304/316. Chloride environments reduce service life unless surface finish and maintenance are controlled.
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Magnetic: As a martensitic grade, it is magnetic at all heat-treatment states.
Standards & typical spec references to request in RFQ
When you request a coil quote, specify the standard and tests you expect. Common documents and references:
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UNS S44004 / AISI 440C (composition basis).
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Mill test report (MTR / EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2) — chemical & mechanical results.
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Surface finish (2B, BA, bright annealed) and flatness tolerance.
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Heat-treatment state — annealed, hardened & tempered (specify HRC), or “soft-annealed for cold forming”.
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Dimensional tolerances (thickness, width, coil I.D./O.D.) and coil weight (affects MOQ and freight).
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NDT/inspection if needed (ultrasonic, eddy current, surface roughness, pitting tests).
Coil forms, finishes and heat-treatment states that matter for price
The form and state heavily affect price:
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Annealed cold-rolled coil (soft) — lowest processing cost.
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Hardened / quenched-and-tempered coil — rare as a direct coil; more often coils are supplied annealed and parts are hardened after forming. If a supplier offers pre-hardened strips/coil, expect major premiums.
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Surface finish: 2B, BA, mirror, or polished — each step adds cost. Polishing and mirror finishes are expensive on 440C due to hardness after heat treatment.
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Thickness & width: Very thin strip or very wide coil are higher cost due to yield and processing constraints.
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Slitting, edge type, and packaging also add to price.
Who makes and supplies 440C coil?
Large specialty alloy mills and regional steelmakers produce 440C in various product forms; distribution is often via specialty metal traders. For coils, much of the production and trade comes from China suppliers and specialty mills in Europe and USA. On platforms (Alibaba, specialized traders) 440C coil/strip prices and MOQ listings provide a picture of wide price dispersion depending on finish and order size.
Pricing drivers what moves the price in 2025
Price is not set by just one factor. Major drivers:
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Raw material costs: Scrap and ferro-alloy costs (especially chromium and molybdenum) influence mill base prices.
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Energy & production costs: Cold-rolling and heat-treatment are energy intensive. Regional energy prices matter.
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Volume / MOQ: Small orders or sample quantities have very high unit price. Bulk tonnage reduces per-ton cost.
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Surface finish & processing steps: Polishing, slitting, pickling, and passivation raise costs.
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Heat-treatment specification: Requesting delivered hardness or pre-tempering adds cost or complexity.
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Freight & duties: Ocean freight, tariffs and shipping delays can add hundreds of USD/ton. Recent trade measures and supply chain bottlenecks affect offers.
2025 market snapshot — representative price ranges
Below is an indicative price comparison for 440C stainless coil in mid-2025. These are representative ranges based on supplier quotes, trading platforms and market indices; they are not firm quotes. Always confirm with suppliers and include specs (thickness, finish, annealed vs hardened, MOQ) when requesting firm offers.
| Region | Indicative price (USD / metric ton) — 2025* | Notes |
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| China (mill/trader FOB common ports) | USD 1,100 – 3,000 / t. | Lower end for basic annealed coils in large lots; upper end for small lots, specialty finishes or value-added packs. See supplier listings. |
| India (domestic mills / traders) | USD 1,300 – 3,200 / t. | Local duties, energy and smaller mill runs push variability upward. |
| Europe (ex-works / trader) | USD 2,500 – 5,500 / t. | Higher energy, stricter QA and certification add cost. Premiums for CE/MTC certifications. |
| North America (distributors / mills) | USD 2,800 – 5,200 / t. | Smaller availability and higher processing costs; stainlessmakers’ hedging and tariffs can affect prices. |
| Middle East / Turkey (trader imports) | USD 2,000 – 4,500 / t. | Heavy dependence on imports; shipping and duty variation. |
* These ranges are derived from public supplier listings, regional coil indexes, and market reports collected in 2025; they should be treated as indicative only — final quotes depend on specs, packaging, and quantity.
Quick conversion: USD 2,500 / t ≈ USD 2.50 / kg.
How we arrived at the ranges
We blended three inputs:
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Supplier platform listings for 440-series coils and strips (representative per-ton / per-kg listings and MOQ notes). These show large spreads depending on finish and order quantity.
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Regional coil price indexes and market commentary for stainless/cold-rolled coil (to understand base coil cost pressure from energy, mills, and demand).
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Technical datasheets (mill datasheets) to confirm that additional processes (heat treatment, special finishes) are cost drivers and sometimes require special handling.
Because online product pages often list inconsistent units or mislabel per-kg vs per-ton values, we used conservative ranges and always note the need for written MTO/MTR specifications when asking suppliers for firm pricing.
How to interpret supplier quotes: a buyer’s technical checklist
When you receive a quote, verify these items before comparing numbers:
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Unit (USD/tonne vs USD/kg vs USD/pc) and Incoterm (FOB, CIF, EXW).
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Product state: annealed vs hardened; coil thickness & width; slit or full coil; edge condition.
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Surface finish: 2B, BA, polished, pickled, passivated. Specify Ra if critical.
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MTR / certification level: EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, heat number traceability.
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Hardness requirement (if asking for delivery in hardened state, specify HRC and tempering diagram or temp).
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MOQ and availability — ask if stock is available, or lead time for production.
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Packaging & shipping weight per coil — affects freight and handling.
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Non-standard tolerances / testing — vendor will price these separately.
Quality assurance: what tests & documents to require
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Chemical analysis (full element breakdown vs spec limits).
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Mechanical tests — tensile, yield (if applicable) and hardness.
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Heat-treatment report (for heat-treated deliveries).
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Surface inspection: visual + dimensional check, and surface roughness if needed.
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Non-destructive tests where applicable (eddy current for thin strips, UT for thicker pieces).
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Passivation certificate if parts will be used in corrosive environments.
Typical applications that justify paying more for 440C coils
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Bearing rings and races, ball bearings (where hardness + corrosion resistance are both required).
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Cutlery and surgical tools (edge retention).
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Valve seats, seals, bushings for petroleum and chemical equipment where wear matters.
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High-wear components in textile and printing machinery.
Because these applications require strict specs (hardness, finish, MTR), buyers pay a premium relative to commodity coils.
Environmental & recycling notes
440C contains chromium and small amounts of molybdenum; end-of-life recycling is part of stainless scrap streams. Recycled content, energy mix at the mill, and supplier environmental reporting can be negotiation levers — mills with higher recycled content or lower carbon electricity sometimes price differently. For large projects, request supplier EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and recycling certificates if sustainability is important.
FAQ
Q1 — Is 440C more expensive than 304/316 stainless coil?
Yes and no. Unit-for-unit commodity 300-series coil tends to be lower or comparable in price because of scale. 440C’s specialty nature, smaller volumes and processing (hardening, polishing) often make it more expensive to procure per finished application, even if base alloy cost per kg may be similar. Always compare spec-to-spec (thickness, finish, heat treat).
Q2 — Can I buy pre-hardened 440C coil ready for forming?
Pre-hardened coils are uncommon because high hardness reduces formability. Normally coils are supplied annealed; parts are cut and heat-treated after forming. If you need hardened strips, expect higher cost and limited sources.
Q3 — What’s the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for 440C coil?
MOQs vary widely: from single-coil (1 tonne) at some traders to many tonnes at mills. Small sample or cut-length orders are available but the per-kg price will be higher. Always specify coil weight per piece in RFQ to get accurate freight & handling charges.
Q4 — Which tests are essential on delivery?
At minimum: chemical analysis and MTR, dimensional check, and hardness if the product is supplied heat-treated. For critical components add tensile tests, NDT, and corrosion testing as required.
Q5 — How often do 440C coil prices move?
Like other stainless products, prices move with alloy surcharges, mill schedules, and freight; notable movement occurs with changes in chromium/molybdenum markets, energy prices, or major trade/tariff decisions. Monitor market indexes and request firm quotes for current pricing.
