Stainless steel pipes produced by Zhejiang Bosheng Steel Industry Group Co. [Photo/WeChat ID: wxlishui]

At the cold rolling factory of Zhejiang Bosheng Steel Industry Group Co in Songyang county, Lishui, stainless steel pipes rolled off the production line on Dec 7, ready to be shipped to domestic and international clients.

"These are high-nitrogen, nickel-saving austenitic stainless steel pipes. Compared to ordinary steel pipes, they have higher strength and better corrosion resistance, and are now widely used in industries such as petroleum, chemicals, marine engineering, and new energy," said Xu Lexie, executive deputy general manager of Bosheng Group.

Stainless steel pipes are a big part of Songyang's economy. In 2023, the county produced 484,000 metric tons of seamless stainless steel pipes, accounting for about one-third of the national output, with a total output value of 11.66 billion yuan ($1.60 billion).

This year, Songyang is focusing on precision and quality to make the shift from low-end mass production to mid-to-high-end tier production.

Data shows that in the past three years, the annual growth rate of R&D expenditure in Songyang's stainless steel pipe enterprises has reached 26.7 percent, leading to the emergence of numerous advancements that are driving the industry forward.