What it is
Deformed steel bar (rebar) is ribbed carbon-steel bar used to reinforce concrete. It is one of the highest-volume steel imports and one of the most price-competitive, which makes it a magnet for suppliers cutting corners on grade, weight, and length.
Grades & standards buyers order
| Grade | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HRB400 / HRB500 | GB/T 1499.2 (China) | The Chinese domestic standard; the number is the yield strength in MPa. |
| Grade 60 / Grade 40 | ASTM A615 (US) | Grade 60 = 60,000 psi yield; the most requested export grade for US-spec projects. |
| B500B | BS 4449 (UK/EU) | Weldable reinforcing steel; ductility class matters for seismic use. |
How it's sold: Sold by metric ton, in straight lengths (typically 9m or 12m) or coil. Diameters commonly 6mm–40mm. Watch length tolerance and whether pricing is by actual or theoretical weight.
What drives the price
- Billet and iron-ore cost — the dominant driver, moves weekly
- Diameter mix (small diameters cost more per ton to roll)
- Grade and ductility class (seismic grades cost more)
- Actual vs theoretical weight basis — a hidden 3-8% price lever
Lock these into the contract before you pay
Grade AND standard together
"Grade 60" alone is ambiguous — always pair it with ASTM A615 (or the exact standard) so the mill test certificate can be matched.
Weight basis (actual vs theoretical)
Theoretical-weight billing lets a supplier ship underweight bar and still invoice full tonnage.
Length and length tolerance
Short bars invoiced at nominal length is a common quiet loss on large orders.
Rib pattern / marking
Genuine bar carries mill and grade marks; unmarked bar cannot be traced to a certificate.
Scams most common to rebar
Grade Substitution (lower grade shipped than ordered)
Lower-strength HRB335 or off-spec bar shipped as Grade 60 / HRB400 — invisible without a tensile test.
Forged Mill Test Certificates (MTC / EN 10204 3.1)
A forged EN 10204 3.1 certificate showing the ordered grade while the physical bar is off-spec.
Deposit-Then-Disappear
A too-cheap rebar quote used to win a deposit that then vanishes.
Red flags in a quote or sample
- A price well below the billet cost floor for the quoted grade
- Refusal to state whether pricing is actual or theoretical weight
- Grade quoted without a standard ("Grade 60" with no ASTM reference)
- No mill or grade rolling marks visible in sample photos
Already paid and something's wrong?
If you received off-spec rebar, a certificate that doesn't match, or your supplier has gone quiet after a deposit, move quickly. Recovery odds drop with every day that passes on a wire transfer.
Buying rebar from China: FAQ
What grades of rebar can I buy from China?
The most commonly ordered grades are HRB400 / HRB500, Grade 60 / Grade 40, B500B. Always pair the grade with its standard on the purchase order so the mill test certificate can be matched to what you actually receive.
What is the most common scam when buying rebar from China?
Grade Substitution (lower grade shipped than ordered). For this product specifically: Lower-strength HRB335 or off-spec bar shipped as Grade 60 / HRB400 — invisible without a tensile test. The defense is to specify the exact grade and standard, require a verifiable mill test certificate, and commission independent pre-shipment inspection.
What should I check before paying for rebar?
Lock down grade and standard together, weight basis (actual vs theoretical), length and length tolerance in the contract, verify the supplier is a real manufacturer, and never release the balance until an independent inspection confirms the goods.
I already paid a Chinese supplier for rebar — what now?
Act fast: contact your bank about a recall on the wire, gather all contracts and communications, report the pattern so others are warned, and review the documented cases to understand your options. The sooner you act on a redirected or disappeared payment, the better the odds.
Related product guides
Wire rod
Low-carbon rod in coil, drawn into wire, nails, and mesh. Grade and rimmed/killed steel confusion is the main buyer trap.
Billet
Semi-finished square bar for re-rolling. Large-tonnage deals make deposit fraud and quality/chemistry disputes high-stakes.
HR coil
The base flat product for tubes, plate, and re-rolling. Grade substitution and thickness/gauge shortfall are the primary risks.