China stainless steel pipe market analysis
Statistics from the Stainless Steel Branch of China Special Steel Enterprise Association show that in 2020, China's crude stainless steel production was 30.139 million tons, an increase of 739,400 tons, an increase of 2.51%, of which Cr-Ni steel (300 series) was 14.37,600 tons, an increase of 887,400 tons, an increase of 6.58%, accounting for 47.71%; Cr steel (400 series) 5,925,500 tons, an increase of 422,400 tons, an increase of 7.68%, accounting for 19.66%; Cr-Mn steel (200 series) 9,643,200 tons, down 589,900 tons, down 5.68%, accounting for 32.00%. In addition, in 2020, China's duplex stainless steel production reached a new high of 191,400 tons, an increase of 10,500 tons, an increase of 5.8%, accounting for 0.63%.
In 2020, the apparent consumption of stainless steel in China was 25.607,900 tons, an increase of 1.554,600 tons, an increase of 6.46%.
Since the reform and opening up, China's stainless steel pipe industry has developed rapidly, with complete production process and equipment categories and perfect equipment. It has developed austenite, ferrite, duplex stainless steel pipe and composite stainless steel pipe products that can meet domestic needs, and has the ability to produce and process ultra-long, ultra-thin and ultra-thick stainless steel pipe. It has basically met the requirements of the downstream pipe industry for varieties, specifications and quality, and has been recognized by the oil, gas, petrochemical, chemical, nuclear (fire) power stations and other industries. Tisco Steel Pipe, Jiuli Steel pipe, Baosteel pipe, Wujin Steel pipe, ZTE Energy, Great Wall Special Steel, Qingshan stainless steel, Jiangsu Yinhuan, Hebei Honrun, Changshu Huaxin and other excellent stainless steel pipe enterprises have taken shape, basically meet the domestic downstream industry demand for stainless steel pipe, and gradually to the international market.
China's stainless steel consumption shows a rapid growth trend. From 2016 to 2020, China's stainless steel production increased by 20.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. During the same period, the output of stainless steel pipe is also growing, resulting in oversupply. At present, structural adjustment and industrial upgrading lag, there is information disclosure of stainless steel pipe enterprises to stop production, transfer, bankruptcy and other phenomena.
Data show that the global stainless steel pipe production accounts for about 10% of stainless steel production, the author believes that the current domestic stainless steel pipe production accounts for about 9%-12% of stainless steel production. Thus, the current production of stainless steel pipe in China is about 3 million tons. Stainless steel seamless pipe and welded pipe accounted for about 40% and 60% respectively. According to the public disclosure information, from 2016 to June 2021, there were about 50 new stainless steel pipe projects (projects), with a production capacity of about 2.4 million tons, and an average annual new production capacity of about 480,000 tons (incomplete statistics, for reference only).
