Stainless crude steel output up 13% in H1

SHANGHAI, Aug 1 (SMM) – China produced 13.64 million mt of stainless crude steel in the first half of the year, up 13.23% from the same period last year, according to data from China Special Steel Enterprises Association. 

Production of Cr-Mn grades stainless crude steel, including some products short of international standards, stood at 4.77 million mt, up 30.37% on the year. Its share in total output rose 4.59 percentage points to 34.94%.

Cr-Mn grades have greater tensile strength because of their higher nitrogen levels. However, their lower nickel content makes them more susceptible to cracking after they undergo metal forming processes.