PURPOSE: To obtain an inexpensive stainless steel with enhanced passivating capacity and considerably improved corrosion resistance by prescribing the S content of a stainless alloy with a specified Cr content or below to a very low value.

CONSTITUTION: When an Fe-Cr or Fe-Cr-Ni stainless steel is refined, by reducing the amount of S in the steel to <10ppm, a stainless steel with enhanced passivating capacity is obtd. By further adding 100W300ppm P to the steel, the passivating capacity can be enhanced furthermore. The amount of Cr contained in the steel as a basic component for passivation is regulated to 9W27%, and Cu and Mo are required to be added by 0.01W3% and 0.01W2%, respectively.