Stainless steel sourcing from China — 304 / 316 sheet, coil and pipe
304, 304L, 316, 316L and 201 stainless in sheet, coil and pipe — with finish options and PMI grade verification, for food, chemical and architectural use.
Stainless steel is bought for corrosion resistance and appearance, and the difference between grades — and between a genuine 316 and a cheaper 201 sold as 304 — is invisible to the eye but decisive in service. We source 304/304L, 316/316L and 201 stainless in sheet, coil and pipe from verified Chinese mills, with the finish your application needs.
The classic stainless fraud is grade down-substitution, because alloy content is where the cost sits. We verify the mill test certificate and can arrange PMI (positive material identification) testing to confirm the actual alloy, plus a surface and finish inspection, before the balance is paid.
Specs, grades & HS code
| Grades | 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 201 |
|---|---|
| Forms | Sheet, coil, pipe, tube |
| Finish | 2B, BA, No.4, mirror |
| Thickness | 0.3–6 mm (sheet/coil) |
| Verification | PMI on request |
| HS code | 7219 / 7220 |
What we check before it ships
- Mill test certificate checked against the heat number
- PMI alloy verification (304 vs 201, 316 Mo content) on request
- Surface finish inspected vs. specified grade (2B/BA/No.4)
- Thickness and dimensions gauged
- Packing and surface protection film confirmed
Typical buyers
Food & beverage
304/316 sheet and pipe for hygienic equipment and surfaces.
Chemical & process
316/316L for corrosion-critical tanks, piping and parts.
Architecture & decor
Finished sheet (BA, No.4, mirror) for cladding and fittings.
Delivered to your market
Frequently asked questions
How do you stop 201 being sold as 304?
We verify the mill test certificate and can run PMI (positive material identification) on the actual goods to confirm the alloy before shipment — the only reliable check, since the grades look identical.
What finishes are available?
2B and BA for general and bright work, No.4 brushed and mirror for architectural use; we inspect the finish against your spec.
Can you supply 316L for marine or chemical use?
Yes — 316 and 316L with verified molybdenum content for corrosion-critical applications, confirmed on the certificate and by PMI if required.
The risks of sourcing from China — and how we remove them
Every importer faces the same handful of failure points. Here's what each one is, and what we do about it.
01Paying a trader's hidden markup
We verify the supplier is the actual manufacturer and show the factory price separately from our fee, so you never overpay a middleman.
02A 'factory' that turns out to be a shell company
We check business licenses, capacity and history, and visit the site in person before you commit a single payment.
03Losing the deposit to fraud
Funds go to Silk Way Sourcing under one contract, not to an unknown account, and the balance is tied to an inspection you approve.
04Receiving goods that don't match the sample
An independent pre-shipment inspection checks quantity, dimensions and quality against your spec, with a photo report, before anything ships.
05Goods stuck at customs over paperwork
We prepare and handle export and customs documentation end to end, so shipments clear without costly holds.
What importers say after working with us
Sourcing wins across steel, solar, energy storage, construction materials and supplier verification. Client names are withheld for confidentiality.
- Steel & metals
We needed 200 tonnes of hot-rolled coil and kept getting quotes from traders. Silk Way took us straight to the mill, verified it, and inspected the load before we paid the balance.
Importer, steel & metals · Egypt - Steel & metals
Structural steel and pipe for a construction project. Prices were close to domestic Chinese levels — far below what local importers quoted us.
Construction supplier · Tanzania - Steel & metals
Stainless steel sheet at a price our competitors couldn't match. The on-site audit photos sealed it for our board.
Industrial buyer · Poland
Meet our team of experts
Our team brings hands-on experience in sourcing, quality control, and logistics, working closely with manufacturers to ensure reliable results at every stage.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi
Founder & CEO
Dmitry Markov
Head of Operations & CTO
Andy Wang
Logistics & Compliance Manager
Alyona
Marketing & SMM
Contact Us
Have a project in mind or need a quick consultation?
Get in touch with us through any channel that's convenient for you — we respond fast.