At first glance, this seemed like a very standard inquiry. However, during further communication, our sales team noticed some interesting details.
“Can you supply S235JR?”
When the client asked this question, our immediate response was: “Yes, we can.”
But we were also aware that S235JR is not a commonly produced European standard grade in Chinese steel mills, and the customer placed great emphasis on delivery time and cost control.
Therefore, our technical team quickly got involved and worked with sales to clarify the customer’s specific requirements for the steel material, including:
1.Will the material be used in welded assemblies?
2.Will it undergo stamping or bending?
3.What are the minimum requirements for yield strength and elongation?
4.Must it be a European standard, or is a performance-equivalent alternative acceptable?
After confirming all of these points, we realized that the client wasn’t strictly attached to the S235JR grade—they cared more about performance and delivery time.
So, we took the initiative to recommend the Chinese standard Q235B hot-rolled sheet. We explained:
“Q235B offers yield strength and tensile strength very close to S235JR.
It is suitable for structural welding and stamping applications.
In addition, we can provide full performance test reports and mill test certificates, so you can use the material with complete confidence.”
We also prepared a bilingual technical comparison package, including:
1.A performance comparison chart between Q235B and S235JR
2.Chemical composition analysis
3.Sample test reports from recent production batches
4.A sample of the EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate
The client appreciated our professionalism and attention to detail.
About a week later, we received a clear reply:
“Your recommendation is very professional, and the cost is significantly optimized.
We’ve decided to proceed with Q235B.”
And just like that, the order was confirmed: 200 tons of Q235B hot-rolled sheet, to be used in their next generation of automotive parts production.
We promptly arranged steel mill production, and the delivery time was nearly 10 days shorter than the original S235JR procurement plan.
This collaboration was a win-win: the customer reduced their material cost and secured their production timeline ahead of schedule, while we demonstrated strong professionalism and responsiveness—opening new doors for us in the European automotive supply chain.
We will continue to support overseas clients with our expertise and efficiency, helping them find the most suitable “Made-in-China” steel solutions.
If you're interested in a performance comparison or pricing for S235JR vs Q235B, feel free to contact us anytime!
Baoshan District,
Shanghai, China.
