LR Grade EH40 Marine Steel Plate Price 2025

LR Grade EH40 is a high-tensile shipbuilding steel commonly used for hull girders and structural members requiring high strength and low-temperature toughness (impact-tested to −40 °C). Typical yield strength is ~390 MPa and tensile strength ranges roughly 490–650 MPa depending on thickness and certification. Price in 2025 varies by region, mill origin and certification (classed LR/ABS/DNV), but typical market bands for EH40 ship plates are roughly USD 600–900 / ton for mainstream Chinese mill ex-works offers and USD 700–1,200 / ton in many export/European markets (subject to order size, steel market cycles, coating, and inspection scope). Below we present a detailed technical article, sourcing the common industry knowledge used by suppliers and class societies, explain production, fabrication and procurement considerations, provide a 2025 regional price comparison table, and answer practical FAQs for buyers and engineers.

Purpose and scope

We wrote this to serve manufacturing engineers, procurement teams, naval architects and technical salespeople who need a single, authoritative English reference for LR Grade EH40 shipbuilding plate in 2025. The content is oriented to real procurement decisions: technical fit, test expectations, fabrication rules and transparent pricing comparisons across global supply hubs. We aim for a neutral, experience-based tone and short, practical paragraphs to help you act quickly.

Standards, classification and equivalence

EH40 is a high-tensile, hull structural steel grade specified by several classification societies and national standards. Commonly seen references and equivalents include LR (Lloyd’s Register) EH40, ABS/DNV/GL/CCS equivalents (often listed as E40 / NV E40 / GL-E40), and A131 references in some catalogs. Because different societies add their own notation and testing rules, buyers should always confirm the exact class certificate (LR, ABS, DNV, CCS, BV, NK, KR, RINA, etc.) required by their project.

Key checklist:

• Confirm the class society stamp (LR, ABS, DNV, etc.).

• Confirm impact test temperature requirement (EH40 commonly tested at −40 °C).

• Confirm thickness range and delivery condition.

• Ask for mill and heat numbers on certificates.

Chemical composition and mechanical properties

Across manufacturer datasheets the ranges are consistent:

• Yield strength (min): approximately 390 MPa.

• Tensile strength: commonly 490–650 MPa (varies with thickness).

• Elongation: typical minimums near 18–21% depending on thickness and standard.

• Impact toughness: transverse/longitudinal impact energy specified to meet service temperature—EH40 is commonly specified for −40 °C service.

A representative chemical window (typical supplier ranges):

• C: ≤ ~0.18%

• Si: ~0.10–0.50%

• Mn: ~0.9–1.6%

• P, S: each ≤ ~0.035%

• Other microalloying elements (Nb, V, Ti, Cu, Ni, Mo, B) used in small amounts per mill practice.

Notes:

• Exact compositions vary by producer and class requirements. Some mills add controlled Nb/V to improve toughness at low temperatures without excessive carbon.

Manufacturing, testing and certificate expectations

When you buy EH40, these are standard deliverables we expect from a reputable mill or trader:

• Mill Test Certificate (MTC): chemical analysis, mechanical test results (yield, tensile, elongation), impact test reports (temperature and energy), heat number traceability.

• Class certificates/endorsements if required by the buyer (LR/ABS/DNV etc.).

• Thickness & dimensional reports.

• Non-destructive testing (NDT): UT or PT as contractually agreed.

• Surface treatment: as-rolled, blasted, coated or primed depending on order.

• Packaging & seaworthy export packing for long sea voyages.

Testing examples commonly required by class:

• Tensile tests at room temperature.

• Charpy V-notch impact tests at −40 °C for EH40.

• Flattening/bend tests per applicable standard.

Welding, fabrication and heat-treatment notes

EH40 is made to balance strength and weldability. Practical guidance we use in production:

• Weldability: EH40 has generally good weldability, but preheat and interpass controls depend on thickness, joint geometry and consumable choice. Lower carbon equivalents reduce hydrogen cracking risk.

• Consumables: use low-hydrogen electrodes / wires matched to base metal strength; consult consumable datasheets to match mechanicals.

• Preheat & interpass temperature: follow class or project WPS; thicker sections may need higher preheat and controlled interpass to avoid HAZ brittleness.

• Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT): not usually required for EH40 for typical hull structures, but check contract requirements for fatigue-sensitive or high-temperature applications.

• Distortion control: high-strength plates demand disciplined fixturing and tack sequences to control shrinkage.

We recommend always involving the welding engineer early and stipulating approval of WPS/PQR and welder qualifications in the purchase order.

Corrosion resistance and surface protection options

EH40 is a carbon-manganese, low-alloy steel—not stainless. Long service life in marine environments therefore relies on protective systems:

• Primers: zinc-rich epoxy or inorganic zinc primers are typical for yard storage and initial protection.

• Underwater / hull coatings: epoxy barrier coats with final antifouling systems for hull bottoms.

• Cathodic protection: used on submerged structures.

• Corrosion allowance & painting: specify coating system and painting milestones in the contract (mill finish, blasted, primer, topcoat).

Selecting the coating system should consider operating area (tropical vs sub-arctic), maintenance intervals, and class requirements.

Typical applications and selection rationale

EH40 is selected where a combination of high yield strength and low-temperature toughness is required:

• Hull framing, shell plating and primary longitudinal girders on ocean-going vessels.

• Offshore platform topside/hull structures where weight saving is needed without compromising toughness.

• Heavy structural components on ships or large welded assemblies.

Why choose EH40 vs lower grades?

• EH40 reduces section size/weight relative to AH36 or DH36 while keeping toughness at low temperatures.

• It’s widely accepted by class societies and mills keep standard production routes.

Global price comparison — 2025 (USD per metric ton)

Important: steel prices move with global markets, scrap, energy, freight and order size. The figures below are indicative market bands derived from supplier listings, price bulletins and marketplace reports in 2025; treat them as procurement starting points, not fixed quotes. Always request a firm PI from the mill/trader.

How we derived these bands:

• Marketplace listings and supplier price pages show China offers in the low hundreds to high-600s per ton for ship plate commodity grades; specialized, classed EH40 tends to be priced above commodity mild plate due to testing and certification. Spot market reports (China ABS price bulletins) show regional figures consistent with the lower end of the ranges.

Practical advice:

• Ask for price by thickness (price per ton can vary slightly with thickness and plate dimension).

• Confirm whether price includes MTC, class stamp, packing and inland freight.

• Larger orders (hundreds to thousands of tons) attract volume discounts and better lead times.

Logistics, lead times and inspection checklist

Typical lead times:

• Ex-stock: available from distributors — fastest but limited sizes.

• Mill production: 3–6 weeks typical for normal production runs; can lengthen in peak seasons or for large volumes.

• Class inspection: add days depending on inspector availability and port/site.

Inspection checklist we always require on POs:

1. Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1/3.2 equivalent) with heat & batch numbers.

2. Impact test certificates showing −40 °C performance and energies.

3. Mechanical test results (yield, tensile, elongation).

4. NDT reports (UT, PT) if required.

5. Dimensional & surface condition report plus photos prior to shipment.

6. Welding consumable approvals if supplied in assemblies.

Packaging: specify seaworthy wooden crating, edge protectors and desiccant/corrosion inhibitors for long transits.

What top supplier and datasheet pages say — synthesis of the leading 10

We reviewed common supplier datasheets, class-listed product pages and marketplace bulletins to extract the recurring facts buyers rely on. The following synthesizes the key points from many of the top supplier pages and adds gaps we routinely encounter.

Commonly reported facts (present across supplier datasheets):

• Mechanical baseline: yield ~390 MPa; tensile commonly 490–650 MPa.

• Impact test temperature: EH40 is often specified for −40 °C (EH series named for low-temperature toughness).

• Applications: hull structural plate, heavy ship components, offshore structure use.

• Equivalents: many pages list equivalences across class societies — NV E40, GL-E40, LR/EH40, BV/EH40, CCS/E40, etc.

Frequently under-explained or missing elements we added:

• Exact composition windows for European vs Chinese mills: Some mills use slightly different microalloy mixes (Nb/V/Ti) to tune toughness; buyers should request the exact mill MTC. (we include typical ranges earlier)

• Fabrication best practices by thickness: very few product pages list detailed welding preheat or interpass guidance—this is usually left to project WPS. We provided practical welding notes for procurement.

• Pricing context: vendor product pages often list prices without clarifying whether costs include certification, packaging or freight; we clarified typical inclusions and exclusions and supplied indicative market bands.

• Supply variability: suppliers seldom state how spot market swings and scrap pricing influence quoted price; we emphasize requesting firm PIs and including validity windows.

• Traceability and NDT specifics: while impact and tensile requirements are shown, the procedural details of UT/RT acceptance criteria are rarely present on product pages; we recommended explicit contractual language.

Competitive alternatives and when to choose them

If EH40 is over-spec or under-spec for your project, consider:

• AH36 or DH36: lower strength and lower cost; suitable where heavy low-temperature toughness is not required.

• FH40 / higher notch toughness grades: if operations require even lower temperature performance (e.g., −60 °C) consider FH40 variants.

• Higher-alloy or corrosion-resistant steels: for very corrosive environments choose duplex or stainless options but expect much higher cost and altered welding regimes.

Selection matrix (high level):

• Need strength + sub-arctic toughness → choose EH40.

• Need cost reduction and similar fabrication → choose AH36 / EH36 if service temperature allows.

• Need extreme low temperature → evaluate FH40 or special alloys.

FAQs

Q1 — What exact mechanical values should we demand on the MTC for EH40?
A: Ask the mill for measured yield (MPa), ultimate tensile (MPa), elongation (%) and Charpy V-notch impact energies at −40 °C, with heat and plate numbers matched to the physical plate. The MTC should follow EN 10204 3.1/3.2 or the equivalent certificate required by the buyer and class society.

Q2 — How different is EH40 from EH36 in performance and price?
A: EH40 has higher minimum yield (~390 MPa) and higher tensile compared with EH36; that allows thinner sections for equivalent load but raises unit cost. Price delta depends on market; often EH40 commands a premium over EH36 because of extra testing and higher alloy control.

Q3 — Are class stamps (LR/ABS/DNV) essential on the plate?
A: If your vessel or platform is classed, you must procure material that can be endorsed by the relevant class (LR, ABS, DNV, etc.). Clarify the exact class stamping or endorsement required in the purchase order to avoid rejections on arrival.

Q4 — What packaging and inspection should I require for export shipments?
A: Require seaworthy packing, anti-rust protection, and pre-shipment photos; specify a third-party inspection if required (for example, by SGS or class surveyor). Include a clause for random UT spot checks and MTC verification at destination.

Q5 — How to get the best price for EH40 in 2025?
A: Combine these tactics: buy in bulk, accept standard lengths and widths, be flexible on delivery window, consolidate orders with other projects, and request firm PIs with defined validity periods. Be explicit about included scope: MTC, class endorsement, packing and inland freight. Market bands in 2025 show Chinese ex-works being the most competitive source for commodity orders.