Hardox 500 Price per kg (2025)

Hardox® 500 is a high-value abrasion-resistant steel used where long wear life and reduced downtime matter; its market price per kg in 2025 varies widely by origin and specification (brand Hardox® vs. non-branded NM/AR500 equivalents), but a practical procurement range is roughly USD 1.0–6.0 per kg (FOB/EXW for sheet/plate orders depending on thickness, processing and minimum order)—premium branded Hardox from the mill and authorized service centers sits at the upper end, while commodity equivalents from traders and secondary mills can be at the lower end. Buying by life-cycle cost, not only initial price/kg, almost always favors using the correct grade and fully specified plate; net savings from longer life frequently justify paying more up front.

What Hardox® 500 is: composition, hardness and behaviour

Grade and brand: Hardox® is an internationally marketed family of abrasion-resistant steels produced by SSAB. Hardox® 500 has a nominal Brinell hardness around 500 HBW, which is substantially harder than common structural steels and many older AR grades. It combines wear resistance with reasonable bendability and weldability, which is why OEMs and fabricators choose it for liners, buckets, chutes and dump bodies.

Key metallurgical features (what creates cost):

• Controlled clean chemistry and alloying to achieve hardness yet preserve weldability and toughness.

• Mill processing and heat treatment that ensure consistent hardness across plate thickness.

• Tighter dimensional and flatness tolerances for premium plates.

• Traceability and brand premium (Branded Hardox includes documentation, guaranteed hardness range and technical support).

All these increase manufacturing cost vs. plain carbon plate and therefore raise the mill/FOB price per kg.

Typical applications and where the value comes from

Hardox® 500 is selected where abrasive wear shortens component life. Typical uses:

• Mining and quarrying liners, crusher and screen parts.

• Truck bodies and dumpers seeking higher payload and longer wear life.

• Recycling plant chutes and hoppers.

• Asphalt and concrete pavers, bucket liners and heavy earth-moving attachments.

The value proposition is twofold: reduced replacement frequency and increased payload or thinner design that reduces weight. In pit or plant applications the “price per kg” becomes a small part of operating expenses while service life dominates purchasing decisions.

How price per kg is formed

When suppliers quote a USD/kg (or local currency/kg) figure for Hardox 500 plate, that number reflects a stack of cost elements:

• Raw material feedstock: steelmaking route (EAF vs BOF), scrap and iron ore input costs (global indices influence this).

• Mill conversion and alloying: alloy additions, heat treatment, rolling and finishing. Brand owners invest more in controlled processes and inspection.

• Thickness and size: thin plate in small cut lengths has higher processing ratio per kg; wide/thick plates cost more/kg due to alloying and rolling steps.

• Surface finish and additional processing: cutting, nesting, flame or laser cutting, edge beveling, flame hardening.

• Certifications, testing, traceability documentation (mill certificates, impact testing at temperature) add cost.

• Logistics and trade factors: freight, duties, anti-dumping measures, inventory carrying.

• Brand/mill premium and reseller margin: SSAB Hardox carries a mill premium; local traders and imports vary widely.

Because of these variables, the same nominal “Hardox 500” label offered by different suppliers may have very different performance guarantees, which is why price ranges are broad in marketplaces.

Historical price table (past 5 years, indicative averages)

Method note: there is no single public global price index for branded wear-resistant plates. The table below synthesizes public marketplace listings for branded and equivalent AR500/NM500 products, mill examples, and steel market indices to present an indicative average range per calendar year (USD per kg). Use these figures for budgeting and trend interpretation — always confirm actual quotes for your spec and delivery term. Sources include marketplace listings and industry price trackers.

Indicative global average ranges for Hardox® 500 / AR500-equivalent (2021–2025) USD per kg (FOB/EXW ranges)

Interpretation: the table demonstrates that “price per kg” is not a single figure but a band driven by origin (brand vs. commodity), thickness, processing and documentation. For serious equipment parts and long-life liners, buyers should benchmark with branded mill quotations and life-cycle costing, not only the lowest/kg listing.

Global price snapshot 2025

Indicative 2025 price ranges by region (USD/kg, typical conditions for plate orders 1–10 tonnes; ranges overlap because of product finish and documentation differences). Sources: marketplace listings, SSAB materials, regional price trackers.

Practical buying note: If you need welded, bent or pre-processed plates (cutting, welding, holes) or certified impact testing, expect higher per-kg prices at quotation stage; always confirm thickness, length, fabrication and spec.

What will move prices in the next 5–10 years?

Here are the most consequential variables to watch — each has a direct bearing on price and availability:

1. Chinese export volumes and trade policy. Large Chinese export surges depress commodity prices globally; anti-dumping duties and trade remedies can quickly change landed cost.

2. Raw material cost cycles (iron ore, scrap). EAF vs BOF route economics shift mill costs; scrap shortages push costs up.

3. Green-steel premium and decarbonization investments. Mills that decarbonize or offer “fossil-free” steel may command premiums. OECD and industry outlooks highlight decarbonization as a strategic driver.

4. Infrastructure and mining capital cycles. If mining equipment orders rebound, demand for wear plate will rise. World Steel and industry forecasters track annual demand.

5. Fabrication technology and substitution risk. New surface treatments, overlays or ceramics could influence the mix of wear plate demand.

6. Currency and freight volatility. Global logistics costs and exchange rates materially change landed cost.

7. Consolidation and brand protection. Positioning by branded mills (SSAB and others) on authorized distribution affects availability and price transparency.

Outlook summary: Expect moderate structural growth in wear-plate demand (renewals, infrastructure, mining) with regional price divergence due to trade measures and decarbonization spending. Premium branded plates should retain a consistent price premium but deliver improved ROI in many heavy-duty applications.

Practical procurement playbook (how to buy Hardox 500 and reduce risk)

A. Specify correctly (don’t just say “Hardox 500”)

• State exact grade, thickness, lot traceability, impact toughness (if required), heat number traceability, and whether you require brand-guaranteed plates (SSAB certificate). Brand verification matters — some sellers use “Hardox-like” language without the mill guarantee.

B. Use life-cycle costing

• Ask vendors for service life or wear-test references in comparable environments; low price/kg can be false economy. SSAB’s own case studies show higher hardness reduces total cost/day in many quarry/mining applications.

C. Compare “apples to apples”

• Ensure pricing comparisons account for cutting, bevelling, testing, packaging and shipping — a cheap FOB/kg can evaporate when you need certified impact test results or extra processing.

D. Check seller credentials

• Branded: buy from authorized distributors or the mill.

• Commodity: inspect mill certificates (chemical and mechanical), request hardness reports and sample testing.

E. Consider a Chinese factory partner for competitive mill EXW pricing

• For many international buyers, buying direct from a Chinese mill with factory pricing and arranging certified inspection offers cost advantages — but ensure robust QC, witness testing and agreed claims handling. This is where MWalloys can help: we are a Chinese alloy manufacturer specializing in nickel, iron-based and aluminum products; we provide factory FOB quotations, custom processing (cutting, drilling, welding prep), and international export documentation designed for OEMs and distributors. We offer 24-hour quotation turnaround, customized plate processing and QC reporting to match your procurement SOPs. (Contact MWalloys for exact factory EXW/FOB quotations and sample testing plans.)

F. Negotiate minimum order and consolidation

• Consolidating several smaller orders into a full truckload or container reduces per-kg freight and handling premiums.

G. Insist on testing and documentation

• Mill certificate (EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 where required), hardness and impact test certificates, chemical analysis, and NDE if specified.

Standards and testing

To prove performance and secure warranty/claims, request:

• Mill certificate: EN 10204 Type 3.1 or 3.2 (or equivalent national certificates).

• Hardness testing: Brinell hardness (HBW) tests across representative samples.

• Impact testing: Charpy V-notch at specified temperature if operating in cold climates (some Hardox Tuf variants include guaranteed impact values).

• Chemical analysis and tensile testing: to ensure the alloy matches the specification.

• Traceability: heat numbers and plate stamps that match certificates.

• Welding procedure and preheat recommendations: available from the mill for fabricators.

These technical confirmations both justify branded premiums and reduce installation risk.

FAQs

1. Is Hardox 500 worth the extra cost over AR400 or AR450?
   In most heavy-abrasion, high-impact services the longer life of Hardox 500 lowers total cost per day; SSAB case studies show 2–4× life vs low hardness steels in many quarry applications. Get job-specific wear studies to confirm.

2. What is the real price per kg I should budget for?
   For initial budgeting, plan a range USD 1.0–3.0/kg for non-branded AR500 equivalents and 2.5–6.0+/kg for processed, certified or branded Hardox 500 deliveries in 2025 — actual quotes can vary.

3. Can I weld Hardox 500 in the field?
   Yes, but follow the mill’s welding procedure (preheat/post-weld heat control where required) and use appropriate consumables. Some Hardox variants (Tuf) are designed for easier welding.

4. How does thickness affect price/kg?
   Thicker plates often command higher price/kg due to processing and alloy requirements; thin plate can appear cheaper per piece but may cost more per processed part. Always ask for thickness-specific quotes.

5. Can cheaper AR500 from China perform like branded Hardox?
   Some commodity NM/AR500 products approach similar hardness, but variability in toughness, plate flatness and traceability can lead to different field performance. Require lab reports and third-party testing.

6. What delivery lead times are normal?
   Mill to distributor: weeks to months depending on stock; factory-to-export for custom cuts typically 2–8 weeks depending on order size and processing. Confirm with your supplier. (MWalloys offers flexible production scheduling for OEMs; contact our sales team for lead-time commitments.)

7. How do I test incoming plates on arrival?
   Random hardness mapping (HBW), visual inspection for flatness, spot chemical checks and cross-checking certificates to heat numbers. For critical components, do full mechanical and impact tests on sample pieces.

8. Will prices drop if I wait?
   Short-term price swings depend on raw materials and trade policy. Long-term, decarbonization and capacity changes will shape a slowly rising premium for branded, low-carbon steel. Use price hedging or fixed-term supplier contracts to manage volatility.

9. Are there lower-cost substitutes?
   Hardened overlays, ceramic liners, or polymer liners can compete in some niche cases, but the choice depends on impact vs abrasion and repairability.

10. How should I request quotes to get comparable offers?
    Provide a full specification: grade (Hardox® 500 or equivalent), thicknesses, plate sizes, cutlists, required certificates (EN 10204 3.1/3.2), welding/impact requirements, packing, incoterm and desired delivery window. Ask vendors to itemize processing costs separately.