HH Stainless turns to Circle Green to accelerate the green transition in Singapore

The HH Group was founded in Singapore in the 1960s. From its origins in scrap dealing, it has grown to become one of the largest steel distributors in the country.  

HH Stainless, the company’s stainless steel arm, has worked with Outokumpu for more than 30 years, distributing popular grades such as 304, 316, Duplex and other high alloy grades  to companies in the oil & gas, marine, shipbuilding, construction and engineering sectors across APAC. 

Now, HH Stainless has become the first company in Asia Pacific to add Circle Green to its portfolio. 

“Choosing Circle Green provided by Outokumpu was a proactive decision,”

“By being the first in Singapore to adopt it, we aim to future-proof our business. This means aligning ourselves with growing demand for sustainable materials and future regulations.” 

The order is for Supra 316L in cut-to-length sheets and plates.

A turning point for the industry

More and more organisations in the Asia Pacific region are asking questions about the environmental impact of steel manufacturing, a sector where high carbon emissions are of growing concern. 

Outokumpu Circle Green offers a practical solution to the challenge with a carbon footprint that is up to 93% lower than the industry  average*. It is a breakthrough in stainless steel production achieved using renewable and low-carbon energy forms, up to 100% low-emission raw materials such as scrap and reinvented production processes.

“Listed companies have a heavy focus on sustainable products,” says Low. “But the general market is not quite there yet.” 

As a result, HH Stainless is expecting only a portion of its customers to show interest immediately. However, this initial order should signal to others a regional shift towards environmentally conscious purchases.

“The benefits of Circle Green speak for themselves — but raising awareness and interest is what’s needed to create demand,” says Cindy Koh, Outokumpu’s General Manager for Southeast Asia. 

Low is confident it won’t be long: “I believe the demand will really kick off in next couple of years.” 

The future for sustainability in Singapore

Singapore is making a concerted shift towards more sustainable building practices, with the Green Mark certification scheme and a growing preference for high life-cycle value materials like premium stainless steels incentivizing positive change. For HH Stainless, there is a Circle Green range worth getting particularly excited about: duplexes and super duplexes.

Their corrosion resistance and strength make them ideal for the oil & gas and engineering industries. Singapore’s Helix Bridge, for instance, called for 650 tons of duplex stainless steel; a material that was both strong and light able to withstand the tropical climate. 
Looking ahead, stainless steel will play a vital role in the growth of technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which involves transporting CO2 from its source and locking it deep underground. Duplex steel’s ability to withstand extreme pressure and corrosion, makes it ideal for CCS equipment. 

Beyond the steel 

Beyond Circle Green, HH Stainless’ sustainability objectives are ambitious. It plans to consolidate its three warehouses into one by early 2026, introducing cleaner, greener technology like solar panels, automatic storage systems, electric vehicle charging stations and electric forklifts.  
 
In the longer-term, HH Stainless hopes to transition at least 20% of its stock to products from greener sources over the second half of the decade, and more beyond that. It is a shift that would position the company among the distributors with the lowest carbon footprint in the APAC region.  
 
The company recognises that becoming more sustainable is a collaborative effort, so it also plans to work closely with government bodies to promote low-emission products and practices, while expanding its reliance on Outokumpu. 

“We are very happy to be working with HH Stainless for this landmark delivery,”

says Cindy Koh. “This is a big win for both Singapore and the wider APAC region. Hopefully, it is only the beginning of the journey.”