Eiffel Trading 101: Difference Between Primary and Secondary (Used, Surplus) Steel Pipe

You may have heard that there is a difference between prime steel and secondary steel. Prime steel is steel that passes all manufacturing inspection tests in manufacturing and is available on the “primary” raw materials market. Anything that doesn’t fall into that category is on the secondary market.

Secondary steel can be classified into two main categories: used and surplus. In this post, we’ll look at the differences between primary and secondary <a href="www.eiffeltrading.com/marketplace/construction-material/pipe/8f1ca80e-1a4f-4ba9-5de2-581148e9d372"target="_blank">used steel pipe, including surplus steel pipe.

Primary Steel Pipe

Steel mills produce prime steel in the form of sheets, pile, pipe, beams, and more. Primary – prime – steel has been produced from iron ore and passes all manufacturing inspection tests. Primary steel is sold on the “primary” raw materials market and must meet rigorous standards.

Secondary Steel Pipe

Secondary steel is steel that does not meet “prime” standards and can typically be categorized one of two ways: used or surplus. Several states have strict standards on what can be sold as prime steel, so in many cases secondary pipe is simply rejected at the mill because it did not meet primary steel pipe specifications. Some mills also produce secondary steel pipe that is made from recycled or scrap steel.

Used Steel Pipe

Used steel pipe has been used in an actual building project. It could be retired pipeline from oil and gas wells, casing tubing, or building structures. Depending on what the steel was used for and how well it was maintained, it could be in good condition to be reused for another project. Used steel pipe can also be tested for strength and durability and reconditioned to suit your project. _<a href="https://go.eiffeltrading.com/selling-with-eiffel-trading"target="blank">Selling your used steel pipe can also help you increase your bottom line on a project by improving overall ROI.

Surplus Steel Pipe

Surplus steel pipe was purchased for a particular project, but never actually put to use. It may have been purchased by a company that canceled the construction project, purchased too much material, or liquidated its inventory. Surplus steel is widely used in the construction industry because it can be found in every grade and type (surplus pipe, <a href="https://go.eiffeltrading.com/wide-flange-beams"target="_blank">used wide-flange, <a href="https://www.eiffeltrading.com/marketplace/construction-material/h-pile/250ac97c-25a6-1ade-0ed3-c266580c16fd"target="_blank">used H-pile, sheet pile, etc.).

Surplus could also refer to pipe directly from a mill that was never sold to a construction company. Steel pipe is sometimes rejected in original manufacturing inspections. This is usually due to minor issues that occur during manufacturing, which could result in the cut of the steel being a few inches too short or the durability being slightly off.

This means that surplus steel can be nearly prime quality and straight from the manufacturer, but it cannot be sold on the primary market. Surplus steel pipe represents a great opportunity for saving money on construction projects, since you can always recut or recondition the steel to match the needs of your construction job.

Uses for Secondary Steel Pipe

Secondary steel pipe – used or surplus – can bought, sold, and used for things like pipelines, used piling and casing strings, as well as in smaller projects like fence posts, poles for signage, or flagpoles. This type of pipe can be welded, painted, or otherwise reconditioned to fit the specifications of your next project.

Secondary steel pipe that is no longer suitable for construction projects can be recycled. It’s estimated that 80% of steel products are recycled in the U.S. alone, and recycled steel can be produced into secondary pipe again and again.

Buy and Sell Used and Surplus Steel Pipe with Eiffel Trading

In addition to a wide variety of used steel pipe for sale our online marketplace also has a large selection of used loaders, used dozers, used sheet pile, used wide flange beams, and much more for sale.

All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing for free.

Ready to sell your used equipment or material? List your products today for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.