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European Specialty Steel Prices & Market Trends | 2017-2025

Stainless, SBQ & tool steel prices [archive]

Specialty steels, including stainless steel, tool steel, and high-alloy grades, play a crucial role in industries requiring superior strength, corrosion resistance, and heat tolerance. Unlike standard carbon steels, these high-performance materials undergo advanced processing and alloying, resulting in significantly higher value addition. The production of specialty steels involves precise metallurgical control, specialised treatments, and premium raw materials, all of which contribute to their pricing dynamics.

At SteelOnTheNet, we provide up-to-date pricing data for a wide range of specialty steels, helping manufacturers, traders, analysts and investors navigate this critical market segment. By understanding the price trends industry professionals can make better-informed production and investment decisions. Explore our latest specialty steel price updates below.


Important Notice:

This steel price data page will no longer be updated after October 2025. Historical data will remain available for reference. For current steel market intelligence, please visit CRU, MEPS International or SteelOrbis.

European Specialty Steel Prices, $ / tonne
YearMonthStainless CRCCarbon SBQAlloy SBQTool Steel
20101308879911834040
20102307274312063894
20103318374412273750
20104338076512093953
20105348678911893287
20106346280112993274
20107356887813533621
20108338692213733405
20109355995614403720
201010384899814853906
201011369099414863846
201012358495714513771
201113435101514943808
201123865105216233776
201134096107116454057
201144168112016694168
201154106113216664258
201164036113416923926
201173962113217024378
201183966112417254107
201194006108116984141
2011103649107116603999
2011113502104316593685
201112333398916111644
20121322596015613780
20122341699916663894
20123347094116372340
20124343195116123801
20125328595715533865
20126327392115543576
20127318488615213777
20128317787914943651
20129316691716053618
201210320190115393811
201211316187615173538
201212316890615153984
20131319891514473831
20132324791414873758
20133313785413613709
20134318685913333738
20135313886513303598
20136307788313913602
20137296586113093616
20138300791513833776
20139294187413673545
201310284389013843608
201311291685713543563
201312303590213953537
20141287788814263460
20142291288713523464
20143294889414093667
20144297488713803580
20145296285513233440
20146316786213473467
20147324085513923941
20148312683013283568
20149321583112953436
201410313283112703493
201411299377412063389
201412291779012483709
20151277772910992989
20152268170210813205
20153259066010513032
20154256165710432990
20155263567310043172
2015626236859903069
2015725536609873069
2015825266719583046
2015924966769703160
20151023946389252952
20151122605969022686
20151222416338632896
2016121595818132754
2016221825848052946
2016321255588352828
2016421325918532844
2016521195798702994
2016621336189172920
2016721255869342845
2016822506128212900
2016923046138792925
20161022745857852785
20161122625758272680
20161222645818802549
2017124465848622759
2017225556028832759
2017326136359002794
2017426516549182893
2017527026809612781
2017626547079673113
20177263373310323097
20178253771610052834
20179260477110313121
201710266477010023143
201711266677310433137
201712273679610402950
20181286184311053304
20182283686912123242
20183292888411832862
20184295387712013053
20185284986911583105
20186279386711963437
20187293486212042861
20188289985611333248
20189288487111922843
201810277294111782531
201811269685611753198
201812287588511882599
20191260284911643111
20192250282011103063
20193256083611782974
20194254979810943310
20195260276910623060
20196265077311162949
20197258274110843075
20198261273410572882
20199264472510703001
201910272170810663051
201911273570410412813
201912271269910413058
2020126036629232989
2020224646719952803
2020324556629712902
2020423456299322915
2020523846509552804
2020624456829542974
2020724666709823008
2020824566879193050
2020924287219732918
20201024546969682978
20201124987129912786
20201225667729562956.5
2021126667689723127
20212281081310563016
20213290982611062849
20214302387511272961
20215318494211933073
20216323897911933458
202173340102412613035
202183533109711843133
202193732110412643409
2021103778112913613337
2021113865114013283635
2021123943114514723982
202214174113715163935
202224409121914714045
202234478119414643498
202244849126315573894
202254988129916464087
202264901135217273500
202274306120416033762
202284334118814993827
202293805115115893984
2022103697112915923914
2022113687117015683984
2022123718113716453975
202313908116116314126
202323955115915804107
202333871110815664142
202343917111015974219
202353673109815734161
202363467110015853891
202373290103516034283
202383202106615113824
202393061102215243436
202310307496115053160
202311314397615063388
202312319494914333383
20241315391814053589
20242307293414233533
20243306397814263735
20244315993013873588
20245335294113713518
20246327091513543380
20247333094914043823
20248339494312223615
20249335998414073437
202410320691413193456
202411318788812213279
202412312884412973243
20251293282312803174
20252293485812643217
20253304095012783193
20254307191712593652
20255305292612973254
20256311094813853053
2025730239601400n/a
2025829419901391n/a
SBQ denotes special bar quality, the US term for engineering steel products.

Table last updated: 22nd October 2025 (final update).




Notes and definitions for the steel pricing data shown in table above

1) Prices are in US $ per metric tonne and describe average European monthly export fob prices.

2) For this purpose, Europe is defined as EU27 + UK excluding Croatia, Malta, Serbia. This geography thus includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

3) Product definitions are as follows:

  • Stainless flat rolled cold rolled coil or sheet, 1-3mm gauge, width of 600mm or more, with nickel content > 2.5%
  • Engineering steel (SBQ), carbon quality, round hot rolled bar >80mm diameter with carbon content > 0.25%.
  • Engineering steel (SBQ), alloy quality, round hot rolled bar >80mm diameter.
  • Tool steel, hot rolled round or flat bar (excl HSS).

4) Pricing data is compiled by MCI. It originates from national customs statistics.

5) Note that the latest price points (the last two months in particular) for each special steel product may change, as additional customs data becomes available.

6) Final data point normally shows specialty steel prices that are ~2 months old. [A short delay is necessary to collect the data].


SPECIALTY STEEL NEWS