Stainless steel resists corrosion because of its chromium content. It is priced by grade first - a 304 sheet and a 202 sheet that look the same can differ greatly in price - then by form, thickness and finish. Float your exact grade and let verified sellers quote.
| Grade | Family | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 304 / 304L | Austenitic (chromium-nickel) | Food, dairy, pharma, kitchen, general fabrication |
| 316 / 316L | Austenitic with molybdenum | Chemical, marine, coastal, pharma |
| 202 / 201 | Austenitic, low nickel (chromium-manganese) | Utensils, decorative, railings in dry areas |
| 409 | Ferritic | Exhaust systems, containers |
| 430 | Ferritic | Appliances, kitchen equipment, interiors |
| Duplex (2205 etc.) | Austenitic-ferritic | High strength plus corrosion resistance |
Stainless is sold as cold rolled and hot rolled coils and sheets, plates, pipes and tubes (welded or seamless), round and flat bars, and angles. Sheet finishes include 2B (smooth mill finish), BA (bright annealed), No. 4 / hairline (brushed) and No. 1 (hot rolled, annealed and pickled). State the finish - it changes the price.
Grade mix-ups (for example 202 supplied as 304) are the most common stainless dispute. Match the heat number on the material to the test certificate, and for large orders consider a quick spectro or XRF check of the nickel content.
On Indian Steel Portal you float one inquiry for stainless steel - grade, sizes, quantity, preferred makes, delivery city and payment terms. KYC-verified mills, stockists and traders quote against it in a live reverse auction with a minimum decrement and a soft-close, ranked L1 to L4 on landed cost. You award L1 or any ranked bidder, and the deal note - with GST, MTC and weighment terms - is generated for both sides.
Float a stainless inquiry - freeMS and GI pipes316 contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides - sea air, salt and many chemicals. 304 is the general-purpose grade and costs less.
No. 202 replaces much of the nickel with manganese, so it is cheaper but less corrosion-resistant. It suits dry indoor uses, not food plants or coastal sites.
Flat-rolled stainless steel is under HSN 7219 (600 mm or wider) and 7220 (narrower); bars and angles under 7222. GST is 18%.
2B is a smooth, slightly reflective cold-rolled mill finish - the most common sheet finish.
Match heat numbers to the mill test certificate and, for large lots, test nickel and molybdenum content with a portable analyser.
Last updated 8 October 2026.
