Schedule 40 Steel Pipe Price

The price of Schedule (SCH) 40 steel pipe is influenced by multiple factors, including raw material cost, production process, size, and market supply and demand. The mainstream price of carbon steel pipe ranges from 4,500 to 6,500 yuan/ton. Stainless steel and alloy steel prices can be as high as 3 to 7 times that of carbon steel, necessitating careful consideration of corrosion resistance. It is recommended to select materials and specifications based on project requirements, and to reduce costs through bulk purchasing or direct supply from the steel mill. The specific factors influencing the price are analyzed below:

1. Raw Material Cost (Core Factor)

Common materials for SCH 40 steel pipe include carbon steel (ASTM A106/A53), stainless steel (304/316), and alloy steel (P11). Different materials have different prices. For the same size, carbon steel is the cheapest, while stainless steel is the most expensive.

Raw Material Cost Analysis:
Price fluctuations in raw materials such as billets, iron ore, and coke directly affect steel pipe costs. Steel pipes containing alloying elements such as chromium and molybdenum (such as P11 and P22) are 50% to 200% more expensive than carbon steel (A53).

Under 90% of operating conditions, stainless steel pipes are significantly more expensive than alloy steel pipes, primarily due to differences in the cost of added precious metals:
Stainless steel: High levels of added alloying elements such as nickel and chromium. For example, 304 stainless steel contains over 8% nickel, with nickel accounting for over 40% of the cost.
Alloy steel: Molybdenum, vanadium, and other elements are added. For example, P11 contains 0.5% molybdenum, but the total amount is far less than the stainless steel alloy composition.

Typical uses of different materials:
Carbon steel: Building structures, low-pressure fluid transportation.
Stainless steel: Chemical, food, and marine engineering.
Alloy steel: High-temperature and high-pressure pipelines (power plant boilers, petrochemicals).

2. Production Process and Specifications

Different production processes result in different prices.
Seamless pipes are suitable for high-pressure applications and are therefore more expensive; welded pipes, due to their weld seams, are suitable for low-pressure applications and are therefore less expensive (such as ERW pipes). Generally, SCH 40 seamless pipe is 20%-30% more expensive than welded pipe. For example, 1" SCH 40 seamless pipe costs approximately 100-150 yuan/meter.

Prices vary depending on the wall thickness precision required. High-precision SCH 40 cold-rolled pipe is 15%-25% more expensive than hot-rolled pipe.
Small diameters (DN15-DN50): Unit prices are higher, as processing costs are spread more widely.
Large diameters (DN100 and above): Per-ton pricing offers better deals.

For non-standard sizes (such as DN65), an additional 10%-40% surcharge applies. This is because custom sizes require adjustments to the production line, which increases costs.
Standard certification fees: API 5L, ISO, and other certifications add 3%-8% to the cost.

3. Surface Treatment and Corrosion Protection
Different surface treatments for steel pipes also affect price and cost.
For example, hot-dip galvanized SCH 40 pipe used in construction and water supply and drainage is 15%-25% more expensive than black steel pipe; 3PE anti-corrosion coated SCH 40 pipe used for buried oil and gas pipelines is priced at 35%-25% higher. 40 steel pipe is more expensive, 30%-50% higher than bare pipe.

4. Market Supply and Demand
Prices in highly competitive regions are 5%-10% lower.
When import demand is strong in regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia, export quotes rise by 5%-10%.
Prices during the infrastructure construction peak season (Q3-Q4) are typically 6%-12% higher than during the off-season (Q1).

SCH 40 vs. SCH 80 Steel Pipe Prices:

Generally speaking, SCH 80 steel pipe is 20%-50% more expensive than SCH 40 on average, with the specific premium varying by size and material.
SCH 80 is more expensive than SCH 40 primarily due to the increased material usage resulting from the increased wall thickness. Thicker-walled pipe requires more rolling steps, resulting in higher energy and labor costs. SCH 80 pipe is primarily used in high-pressure applications and has lower production volumes, resulting in higher prices driven by supply and demand.

Steel Pipe Wall Thickness Selection:
Choose SCH 40 pipe: Low pressure and low cost are preferred (such as building water supply and ventilation ducts).

Choose SCH 80 pipe: high pressure, corrosive or long-term durability requirements (such as chemical and petroleum pipelines).

Read more: Schedule 40 vs Schedule 80 Pipe