The Past, Present And Future of The 200, 300 And 400 Series

Introduction: How do three series of stainless steel build the foundation of modern industry step by step?

As an indispensable material for modern industry and consumer goods manufacturing, stainless steel is widely used in many fields such as construction, transportation, machinery, home appliances, and medical treatment due to its excellent corrosion resistance, processability, and mechanical properties. In the course of nearly a hundred years of development, stainless steel has gradually formed three major series: 200 series, 300 series, and 400 series. They each have their own characteristics and play different roles in different eras and markets.

This article will analyze the evolution logic, technological differentiation, market changes, and future opportunities of these three series from the perspective of "past - present - future"

I.Past: Origin and evolution of the three major series

In the early days, the 300 series occupied an absolute dominant position, but with the shortage of nickel resources and rising costs, the 400 series and 200 series were gradually developed for replacement and supplementation to meet the needs of different performance and prices.

II. Now: Diversified market structure and technology segmentation

1. Market share status

• In the Indian market, the 200 series is widely used due to its low cost, and has a prominent share in mid- and low-end products;

• The global market is still dominated by the 300 series, especially in high-end manufacturing fields such as Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea;

• The 400 series is rapidly expanding in electrical appliances, automobiles, and kitchenware due to its magnetic properties and low price.

  
  

2. Multi-dimensional comparison table

3.Differentiation of application areas

III. Development Trends and Future Opportunities

1. 200 Series Stainless Steel: Demand tends to be stable, regional concentration

• Demand forecast: Overall demand maintains medium-to-low growth, and the global annual compound growth rate is expected to be between 1.5% and 2.0%

• Main markets: Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa and other price-sensitive regions, there is still room for growth

• Domestic market: Due to environmental protection requirements and consumer upgrades, some 201 low-nickel steels will be gradually compressed or replaced.

2. 300 Series Stainless Steel: High-end fields continue to expand, demand is stable and rising

• Demand forecast: As the series with the highest proportion of stainless steel consumption, the annual compound growth rate is expected to reach 3.5%~4.5%

• Driving factors: New energy (such as lithium batteries, hydrogen energy), medical devices, food processing, precision manufacturing and other fields continue to grow for high-performance stainless steel;

• Technological upgrades drive demand from ordinary 304 to 304L, 316L, 317, 904L and other more corrosion-resistant steel grades

  
  

3. 400 series stainless steel: outstanding growth potential, rapid release of magnetic applications

• Demand forecast: With the growth of demand for automobiles, electrical appliances, and magnetic materials, the annual compound growth rate is expected to be 4%~5%;

• Key markets:**Automobile exhaust systems, induction heaters, electromagnetic shielding, battery shells, electric motors, etc.;

• Obvious substitution effect:**Gradually replace 300 series in some non-critical parts (such as back panels and shells), and the cost-effectiveness advantage increases demand elasticity.

IV. DSM's achievements in the development of 400 series stainless steel

1. Product diversification:

• 430, 410S, 410, 420J1/J2, 420U6, 440A/B/C, 4Cr13, 1.4116, 42D002 and other steel grades are supplied in batches and stably

• Performance customization and development for different application fields to meet customers' differentiated needs (such as high hardness, high mirror finish, and high corrosion resistance)

2. Technological breakthroughs:

• Achieve batch production capacity of ** ultra-thin precision strips (thickness up to 0.04mm)

• Accumulate a lot of technical experience in hard coils, deep drawing materials, and heat treatment consistency control

• Develop low-carbon high-chromium modified martensitic steel and successfully apply it in industries such as razor blades and surgical blades

3. Manufacturing capacity improvement:

• Introduce advanced continuous rolling, finishing and annealing equipment to achieve full process control

• Automated warehousing and quality inspection systems improve delivery efficiency and consistency

• Possess annual production capacity of 10,000 tons of high-end martensitic stainless steel

4. Brand and cooperation recognition:

• Products are widely exported to high-standard markets such as Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Europe

• Establish stable cooperative relations with many internationally renowned tool and electrical appliance brands

DSM will continue to use 400 series stainless steel as a fulcrum, integrate R&D innovation and industrial collaboration, and continue to create value for customers. Standing at a new development node, we are not only committed to becoming a high-quality supplier of high-performance stainless steel materials, but also a practitioner and promoter leading the green and efficient development of the industry.