Nickel Alloy Prices May 2026: C-276, Inconel 625, Alloy 825 Market Update

Published: May 2, 2026 | Next update: June 1, 2026 | By findsteel Market Research

Current Price Summary (May 2026)

AlloyFormPrice Range (USD/kg)Change vs AprTrend
Hastelloy C-276Plate 3-12mm$48 - $55+3%Stable-Bullish
Inconel 625Sheet/Plate$42 - $48+2%Stable
Alloy 825Plate/Tube$28 - $32-1%Bearish
Monel 400Plate/Round Bar$26 - $300%Stable
C-22Plate$50 - $58+4%Bullish
254SMOPlate$18 - $22-2%Bearish

*Prices FOB Shanghai. Actual quotes may vary ±5% based on quantity, specification, and destination. Minimum order 100 kg.

Nickel Price Driver Analysis

1. LME Nickel: Holding at $15,800-16,200/ton

London Metal Exchange (LME) nickel cash price has stabilized around $16,000/ton after the April volatility. Key factors:

2. Molybdenum: Price Spike Driving C-276 Premium

Molybdenum price has risen 18% in 2026 YTD, directly impacting C-276 (15-17% Mo content):

3. Chromium: Stable, Minor Impact

Chromium prices remain stable at $9,500-10,000/ton. Impact on nickel alloy prices is minimal.

⚠️ Key Alert: Molybdenum-Linked Alloys Rising

Alloys with >10% Mo content (C-276, C-22, Alloy 59) face upward price pressure. If you have pending orders for C-276 plate, consider locking prices before Q2 peak demand.

Q2 2026 Price Forecast

AlloyMay 2026June 2026 ForecastKey Driver
C-276$48-55$52-60 (+5-8%)Mo price, offshore season
C-22$50-58$55-63 (+5-8%)Mo price, FGD demand
Inconel 625$42-48$43-50 (+2-4%)Ni stable, demand steady
Alloy 825$28-32$27-31 (-3%)LNG delays, weak demand
254SMO$18-22$17-20 (-5%)SS sector slowdown

Procurement Strategy Recommendations

For projects requiring C-276 / C-22 in Q2-Q3 2026:

Lock prices now if lead time allows. Mo-linked premiums are likely to increase another 5-10% by June. Consider partial stock orders now, balance on call-off basis.

By Buyer Type:

EPC / Project Buyers:

MRO / Maintenance Buyers:

Traders / Distributors:

Price Comparison: findsteel vs. Competitors

Alloyfindsteel.cnCompetitor ACompetitor BAdvantage
C-276 Plate 6mm$52/kg$55/kg$58/kg5-10% lower
Inconel 625 Tube 2" SCH40$45/kg$48/kg$52/kg6-13% lower
Alloy 825 Plate 10mm$30/kg$32/kg$35/kg6-14% lower

*Competitor prices based on published quotes and RFQ responses, Apr 2026. Actual prices vary by quantity.

Technical Resources

About This Report

This price report is published monthly by findsteel.cn, a nickel alloy and specialty steel supplier based in Shanghai. We supply C-276, C-22, Inconel 625, Alloy 825, Monel 400, 254SMO, Duplex 2205, and other corrosion-resistant alloys to offshore oil & gas, chemical processing, LNG, and industrial markets worldwide.

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