The latest wholesale price of stainless steel 904L, real-time quotation!

Latest wholesale price and purchasing guide of stainless steel 904L (April 2025)

904L stainless steel basic price range

China market:
Cold-rolled thin plate (0.5-3mm, 2B surface): ¥65-86 yuan/kg (100 kg minimum order).
Hot-rolled medium and thick plate (8-50mm, NO.1 surface): ¥66-120 yuan/kg (720 kg minimum order).
8K mirror polishing: ordinary mechanical polishing (Ra≤0.2μm) is about ¥85-100 yuan/kg, electrochemical polishing (corrosion resistance increased by 20%) is about ¥110-130 yuan/kg.
Customized pipes (including FDA certification): $25-30/kg (50 kg minimum order).

Key factors affecting 904L stainless steel prices

Nickel price fluctuations: Nickel prices recently rebounded to $14,610/ton (April 7), but China's refined nickel production increased by 50.19% year-on-year, and cost support weakened.
Surface treatment: 8K mirror polishing costs account for about 20%-30%, and additional confirmation of polishing processes (such as mechanical polishing, electrochemical polishing) and test reports is required.

904L stainless steel price trend analysis

1. Short-term (1-3 months)
Supporting factors: The recovery of demand in the food and pharmaceutical industry (such as dairy equipment, biopharmaceutical pipelines) has driven a 15%-20% increase in high-end 904L procurement.
2. Medium term (3-6 months)
(demand of 250 million tons in 2025, only 230 million tons approved at present), the nickel price may exceed US$15,000/ton, driving the price of 904L up by 10%-15%.

904L stainless steel procurement strategy

Bulk procurement: Orders above 1,000 kg are negotiable at 5%-10%, with a particular focus on the Chinese market.
Alternatives: If the corrosion resistance requirement is low, 317L stainless steel (nickel content 13%-15%) can be considered, and the price is about 70%-80% of 904L.