You are an importer looking to buy stainless steel coils. The specifications look complex. The market seems confusing. How do you choose the right supplier and product?

A stainless steel coil is a continuous flat-rolled sheet wound into a roll. For importers, you need to specify grade (304, 316), thickness (0.3-6mm), width, surface finish (2B, No.4, BA), edge (mill edge or slit edge), quantity, and certification (MTC, SGS). Standard export HS code for 304 coil 2mm thick is 72193390 (China). Import stainless steel from China guide Stainless steel coil export guide 304 stainless steel coil specifications 316 stainless steel coil for marine use

I have supplied stainless steel coils to importers around the world. A customer in the UAE needed 304 coils for fabrication. A customer in the US needed 316 coils for marine use. Let me walk you through the buying process. Import steel coils into the United States guide 304 vs 316 for marine applications 316 stainless steel preferred for marine applications

What is a stainless steel coil?

A stainless steel coil is a long, continuous flat-rolled sheet of stainless steel coil wound into a roll. Coils are the raw material for many products: kitchen sinks, automotive parts, building cladding, and industrial equipment.

Coils are produced by hot rolling or cold rolling. Cold-rolled coils have better surface finish and tighter tolerances. Coils are slit into narrower strips or cut into sheets. Standard coil widths range from 600mm to 1,500mm. Standard thicknesses range from 0.3mm to 6mm.

Stainless Steel Coil Specifications

Let me explain the key specifications for stainless steel coils.

Product Specifications

Parameter	Range	Common Values
Grade	304, 316, 201, 430	304 (most common)
Thickness	0.3-6mm	0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0mm
Width	600-1,500mm	1,000, 1,219, 1,250, 1,500mm
Finish	2B, No.4, BA, No.1	2B (cold-rolled bright)
Edge	Mill edge, slit edge	Mill edge (standard)
Coil weight	5-20 tons	10-15 tons typical

Production Methods

Method	Description	Finish
Hot rolled	Rolled at high temperature	No.1 (dull, rough)
Cold rolled	Rolled at room temperature	2B (smooth, bright)

My Experience
For a customer needing general fabrication sheet, we supplied 2B finish 304 coil, 2mm thick, 1,219mm wide.

What is the HS code 72193390?

HS code 72193390 is the Chinese export code for cold-rolled stainless steel coils with thickness 1-3mm and width ≥600mm. It covers grades 304, 316, and other austenitic stainless steels.

The full code breakdown: 72 (iron and steel), 19 (flat-rolled stainless steel), 33 (cold-rolled, thickness 1-3mm), 90 (other). This code is used for customs clearance when exporting from China.

HS Code Classification

Let me explain the HS code system for stainless steel coils.

HS Code Breakdown (China Export)

Code	Meaning
72	Iron and steel
19	Flat-rolled stainless steel
33	Cold-rolled, thickness 1-3mm
90	Other (not further specified)

Thickness-Based HS Codes (Cold-Rolled, Width ≥600mm)

Thickness	HS Code
4.75mm and above	72193100
3-4.75mm	72193200
1-3mm	72193300 / 72193390
0.5-1mm	72193400
Less than 0.5mm	72193500

Import HS Codes (USA, EU, etc.)

• USA (HTS): 7219.33.00
• EU: 7219 33

My Experience
For a 2mm 304 coil export from China, we use HS code 72193390. For a 1.2mm coil, we use 72193400.

How expensive are steel coils?

Stainless steel coils cost $2,500-4,000 per ton for 304 and $3,500-5,000 per ton for 316 (2026 prices). A standard 10-ton coil costs $25,000-40,000 for 304 and $35,000-50,000 for 316.

Prices vary by grade, thickness, finish, quantity, and market conditions. 304 is less expensive than 316. Thinner gauges (0.5mm) cost more per ton than thicker gauges (2mm). Larger quantity orders (20+ tons) get better pricing.

Price Ranges (FOB China, 2026)

Let me provide typical price ranges for stainless steel coils.

304 Stainless Steel Coil

Thickness	Price per ton (USD)
0.5mm	$2,800-3,500
1.0mm	$2,600-3,200
2.0mm	$2,500-3,000
3.0mm	$2,500-3,000

316 Stainless Steel Coil

Thickness	Price per ton (USD)
2.0mm	$3,800-4,500

Quantity Discounts (2mm 304 coil)

Quantity	Price per ton (USD)
Less than 5 tons	$3,000-3,500
5-20 tons	$2,700-3,100
20+ tons	$2,500-2,800

My Experience
For a 20-ton order of 2mm 304 coil, we paid $2,600 per ton. For a 5-ton order of the same coil, the price was $3,000 per ton.

What stainless steel should I buy?

The stainless steel you should buy depends on your application. For general use, buy 304. For marine or chemical environments, buy 316. For indoor decorative (cost-sensitive), buy 201. For magnetic and lower cost (indoor), buy 430.

Also consider thickness, surface finish, and width. 2B finish is standard for most applications. No.4 finish is for visible architectural use.

Buying Guide by Application

Let me help you choose the right stainless steel coil.

Grade Selection

Application	Recommended Grade
General fabrication, indoor	304
Kitchen equipment, food	304
Outdoor, inland	304
Coastal, marine	316
Chemical processing	316
Indoor decorative, cost-sensitive	201
Appliance panels	430

Surface Finish Selection

Application	Recommended Finish
General fabrication	2B
Food equipment	2B
Architectural, visible	No.4
Decorative, high-end	BA or mirror
Industrial, thick plate	No.1

Thickness Selection

Application	Recommended Thickness
Light fabrication	0.5-1.0mm
General fabrication	1.0-2.0mm
Sinks, countertops	1.5-2.0mm
Heavy equipment	2.0-4.0mm
Tanks, structural	3.0-6.0mm

My Experience
For a general fabrication customer, we recommended 304, 2B finish, 2mm thickness. For a coastal architectural project, we recommended 316, No.4 finish, 1.5mm thickness.

Conclusion

A stainless steel coil is a flat-rolled sheet wound into a roll. HS code 72193390 covers 1-3mm thick coils from China. Stainless steel coils cost $2,500-4,000 per ton for 304. Choose grade based on your application: 304 for general use, 316 for marine.