2025 Export of Stainless Steel Seamless Pipes: Four Core Essentials (Concise Version)
2025,11, 29
With the adjustment of the global trade pattern and the upgrading of industry standards in 2025, Chinese enterprises exporting stainless steel seamless pipes need to focus on four key matters to ensure the stable progress of their export business.
1. BIS Certification for India Ends on August 1st – Compliance is Urgent
As a key export market for China, India has clearly stipulated in its Stainless Steel Pipes and Fittings (Quality Control) Order that starting from August 1st, 2025, all stainless steel seamless pipes exported to India must obtain certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and comply with the IS 17875:2022 standard. Enterprises should note the following:
- Applications must be submitted in accordance with Scheme I under Schedule II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations (2018 Edition), covering testing of multiple indicators;
- Enterprises that have already obtained certification or submitted applications are entitled to a 6-month buffer period for inventory clearance, while non-compliant products will be banned from entering the Indian market after the deadline;
- Products for exclusive export use and R&D-purpose products with an annual import volume of ≤500 kg are exempted, but supporting documents for their intended use must be provided. It is recommended that enterprises connect with compliance consulting agencies as soon as possible.
2. Rising Trade Frictions – Proactive Response is Key
In June 2025, India launched an interim review of anti-dumping duties on Chinese stainless steel seamless pipes with a diameter of ≤6 inches (under HS Code 7304). Global trade protectionism is spreading: South Africa has imposed a 52.34% provisional safeguard duty on flat steel products, and there are risks of anti-dumping sunset reviews in Argentina and the European Union. Enterprises should:
- Improve the traceability of export data and retain materials such as procurement records and production process documents;
- Avoid tariff barriers through overseas factory establishment and cross-border e-commerce;
- Participate in coordination led by industry associations and jointly respond to trade investigations.
3. High Volatility in Raw Material Prices – Cost Control Determines Profitability
Nickel and chromium account for 65%-75% of the production cost of seamless pipes. In 2025, the nickel price is expected to range between 18,000-25,000 USD/ton, and the CIF price of ferrochrome will fluctuate between 1.1-1.5 USD/pound. Coupled with risks such as Indonesia’s nickel ore policies and power shortages in South Africa, enterprises face significant cost pressure. Countermeasures for enterprises include:
- Signing long-term raw material supply agreements to lock in purchase prices;
- Expanding stainless steel scrap recycling channels (the global recycling rate of stainless steel scrap has exceeded 60%) to reduce reliance on primary ores;
- Optimizing product structure and increasing the proportion of corrosion-resistant pipes for nuclear power and hydrogen energy applications, whose gross profit margin is 8-12 percentage points higher than that of ordinary products.
4. Technological Upgrading & Standard Alignment – Seizing High-End Markets
China’s domestic standard GB/T 24593-2023 has added new indicators such as an inner surface roughness of Ra ≤ 0.4μm. Internationally, standards like Germany’s ASME BPE, the US FDA, and the EU’s EHEDG have become entry thresholds for high-end markets. Enterprises should:
- Promote intelligent manufacturing by introducing equipment such as precision cold rolling machines to achieve accurate control of wall thickness tolerance (±0.02mm) and inner surface roughness (Ra ≤ 0.25μm);
- Develop special materials such as super austenitic stainless steel and expand into high-end application scenarios including biomedicine and semiconductors. Data shows that the global demand growth rate for high-end special stainless steel pipes will reach 6.2% in 2025, far higher than the industry average, making it a new driver of export growth.
In 2025, export opportunities lie in “Belt and Road” infrastructure projects and high-end demand driven by energy transition, while challenges include compliance requirements, trade frictions, and cost pressures. Only by taking compliance as the bottom line, technology as the core, and market diversification as support can enterprises gain a firm foothold in the global market.
2025 Export of Stainless Steel Seamless Pipes: Four Core Essentials (Concise Version)
2025,11, 29
With the adjustment of the global trade pattern and the upgrading of industry standards in 2025, Chinese enterprises exporting stainless steel seamless pipes need to focus on four key matters to ensure the stable progress of their export business.
1. BIS Certification for India Ends on August 1st – Compliance is Urgent
As a key export market for China, India has clearly stipulated in its Stainless Steel Pipes and Fittings (Quality Control) Order that starting from August 1st, 2025, all stainless steel seamless pipes exported to India must obtain certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and comply with the IS 17875:2022 standard. Enterprises should note the following:
- Applications must be submitted in accordance with Scheme I under Schedule II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations (2018 Edition), covering testing of multiple indicators;
- Enterprises that have already obtained certification or submitted applications are entitled to a 6-month buffer period for inventory clearance, while non-compliant products will be banned from entering the Indian market after the deadline;
- Products for exclusive export use and R&D-purpose products with an annual import volume of ≤500 kg are exempted, but supporting documents for their intended use must be provided. It is recommended that enterprises connect with compliance consulting agencies as soon as possible.
2. Rising Trade Frictions – Proactive Response is Key
In June 2025, India launched an interim review of anti-dumping duties on Chinese stainless steel seamless pipes with a diameter of ≤6 inches (under HS Code 7304). Global trade protectionism is spreading: South Africa has imposed a 52.34% provisional safeguard duty on flat steel products, and there are risks of anti-dumping sunset reviews in Argentina and the European Union. Enterprises should:
- Improve the traceability of export data and retain materials such as procurement records and production process documents;
- Avoid tariff barriers through overseas factory establishment and cross-border e-commerce;
- Participate in coordination led by industry associations and jointly respond to trade investigations.
3. High Volatility in Raw Material Prices – Cost Control Determines Profitability
Nickel and chromium account for 65%-75% of the production cost of seamless pipes. In 2025, the nickel price is expected to range between 18,000-25,000 USD/ton, and the CIF price of ferrochrome will fluctuate between 1.1-1.5 USD/pound. Coupled with risks such as Indonesia’s nickel ore policies and power shortages in South Africa, enterprises face significant cost pressure. Countermeasures for enterprises include:
- Signing long-term raw material supply agreements to lock in purchase prices;
- Expanding stainless steel scrap recycling channels (the global recycling rate of stainless steel scrap has exceeded 60%) to reduce reliance on primary ores;
- Optimizing product structure and increasing the proportion of corrosion-resistant pipes for nuclear power and hydrogen energy applications, whose gross profit margin is 8-12 percentage points higher than that of ordinary products.
4. Technological Upgrading & Standard Alignment – Seizing High-End Markets
China’s domestic standard GB/T 24593-2023 has added new indicators such as an inner surface roughness of Ra ≤ 0.4μm. Internationally, standards like Germany’s ASME BPE, the US FDA, and the EU’s EHEDG have become entry thresholds for high-end markets. Enterprises should:
- Promote intelligent manufacturing by introducing equipment such as precision cold rolling machines to achieve accurate control of wall thickness tolerance (±0.02mm) and inner surface roughness (Ra ≤ 0.25μm);
- Develop special materials such as super austenitic stainless steel and expand into high-end application scenarios including biomedicine and semiconductors. Data shows that the global demand growth rate for high-end special stainless steel pipes will reach 6.2% in 2025, far higher than the industry average, making it a new driver of export growth.
In 2025, export opportunities lie in “Belt and Road” infrastructure projects and high-end demand driven by energy transition, while challenges include compliance requirements, trade frictions, and cost pressures. Only by taking compliance as the bottom line, technology as the core, and market diversification as support can enterprises gain a firm foothold in the global market.