Against the backdrop of the upgrading of high-end equipment manufacturing and the in-depth advancement of the dual carbon strategy, stainless steel hexagonal screws, as a core category of basic fasteners, have recently shown a development trend of "expanding demand and optimizing structure". Industry data shows that the market size of hexagon socket stainless steel screws in China reached 38.76 billion yuan in 2024, increasing by 6.3% year-on-year. It is expected to rise to 41.15 billion yuan in 2025, maintaining a steady growth momentum.
The new energy industry has become the core growth engine. The usage of stainless steel fasteners in a single new energy vehicle is 15% to 20% higher than that in traditional fuel vehicles. Among them, hex socket screws, due to their high assembly efficiency and stable torque transmission, have become the preferred component for connecting the power system with the chassis. Meanwhile, the capacity expansion of wind power equipment and photovoltaic support systems has also driven a sharp increase in the demand for A4-80 grade high-corrosion-resistant screws, and their application proportion in Marine engineering, chemical equipment and other scenarios has continued to rise.
The industrial pattern shows the characteristics of "leading by the top and regional agglomeration". The Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta are home to over 70% of the country's production capacity. Leading enterprises such as Jinyi Industrial and Zhejiang Dongming have emerged in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong and other places. These enterprises have reduced their unit production costs by 4.2% through the upgrading of automated production lines. Their products now comply with international standards such as ISO898-1 and DIN912. In 2024, the total export value of the entire industry increased by 9.2% year-on-year, reaching 5.83 billion yuan, with significant growth rates in the Southeast Asian and European markets.
The industry's development still faces the challenge of cost fluctuations. The raw material cost of 304 and 316L stainless steel accounts for 68%. Recently, the prices of raw materials such as nickel pig iron and high-carbon ferrochrome have continued to decline due to the adjustment of Indonesia's production capacity policy and the price reduction by steel mills. In November, the purchase price of nickel pig iron in East China has dropped to 905 yuan per nickel. Although this has narrowed the losses of smelting, the price fluctuations still test the supply chain management capabilities of enterprises.
Technological innovation has become the key to breaking the deadlock. Leading enterprises are focusing on the research and development of materials such as duplex stainless steel and antibacterial stainless steel, promoting advanced processes like Dacromet coating, and enhancing quality stability through intelligent production systems. As domestic high-end products gradually replace imports, the industry's import value has decreased by 2.4% year-on-year in 2024. The construction of technological barriers and global layout are driving the industry's transformation from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing".