Metal Powder Pricing Guide 2026
Understand what drives metal powder costs, compare EXW pricing across all major alloy families based on PS Price Index data, and learn how to negotiate better rates with Chinese manufacturers. Based on real transaction data from 200+ verified suppliers.
1. Current EXW Price Ranges by Alloy Family (CNY/kg)
These are EXW (Ex-Works) price ranges from verified Chinese manufacturers, based on PS Price Index median data as of 2026. Prices assume standard LPBF PSD (15–53µm) and VIGA production unless noted. Premium production methods (EIGA, PREP, PA) add 20–60%. Approximate USD equivalent shown for reference (~7.3 CNY/USD).
| Alloy Family | Key Grades (PS Index Data) | Standard VIGA (CNY/kg) | Premium EIGA/PREP (CNY/kg) | Bulk Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Alloy | TC4 (¥200–205 median, 18 quotes), TA2 (¥400 median) | ¥180–350 | ¥280–500 | 10–30% at 100kg+ |
| Aluminum Alloy | AlSi10Mg (¥80 median, 9 quotes) | ¥65–150 | ¥150–550 | 10–20% at 100kg+ |
| Nickel Alloy | GH3536 (¥300 median), IN738LC (¥780 median) | ¥250–500 | ¥400–900 | 10–25% at 100kg+ |
| Stainless Steel | 316L (¥58 median, 17 quotes), 17-4PH (¥65), 304L (¥60) | ¥40–85 | ¥65–120 | 15–25% at 200kg+ |
| Cobalt-Chrome | CoCr F75, MP1 | ¥150–350 | ¥250–500 | 10–20% at 50kg+ |
| Tool Steel | H13, MS1 Maraging | ¥50–180 | ¥90–250 | 15–25% at 100kg+ |
| Copper Alloy | CuCrNb (¥1,800 median), CuCrZr (¥380), Pure Cu (¥300) | ¥300–2,000 | ¥500–3,000 | 10–20% at 50kg+ |
2. What Drives Metal Powder Cost?
Understanding these 7 cost factors helps you identify where you can negotiate and where you shouldn't compromise.
The base metal price directly drives powder cost. Titanium sponge (¥60–90/kg) and nickel cathode (¥130–180/kg) are major inputs. Fluctuations in LME/Shanghai spot prices feed through within 2–4 weeks.
VIGA is the cost baseline. EIGA adds 20–30% for titanium (no crucible contamination). PREP and plasma atomization add 40–60% for premium sphericity and ultra-low oxygen. Choose based on application criticality, not just price.
Finer PSD (15–45µm vs 15–53µm) adds cost because yield decreases — more powder falls outside the target range during classification. Each additional sieve cut adds processing cost.
MOQ is typically 5–10 kg for specialty alloys, 25 kg+ for commodity grades. At 100 kg, expect 10–15% discount. At 500 kg+, 20–30%. Annual contracts with scheduled deliveries achieve the best rates.
Basic CoA (chemistry + PSD): included. Full certs (+flow, density, SEM): ¥15–30/kg. Aerospace certs (AMS, ASTM F2924): ¥30–60/kg. Medical certs (ISO 13485, ASTM F3001): ¥40–80/kg.
Standard: vacuum-sealed in 1–5 kg HDPE bottles, argon backfill. Hazardous shipping (titanium fine powder is Class 4.1 flammable solid) adds ¥1,500–3,500 per shipment. Air freight 3–7 days, sea freight 20–40 days.
Tier-1 cities (Shanghai, Shenzhen) have higher labor and facility costs than Tier-2/3 cities. However, they often have better logistics infrastructure. This is factored into the EXW price — you don't pay it separately.
3. How to Negotiate Better Powder Prices
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