A seven-step procurement flow — from your first inquiry to the final document set — with lead times, required documents and what we do at each stage.
Every order follows the same controlled sequence. Lead times below are typical — exact timing is confirmed on your Proforma Invoice.
You send the steel grade, thickness × width, quantity and destination country / port. Our sales team reviews availability and processing requirements, then replies with pricing and lead time. If your specification is incomplete, we will ask the minimum questions needed to quote.
Once price and terms are agreed, we issue a Proforma Invoice (PI) confirming grade, specification, quantity, unit price, total amount, trade term, payment terms and estimated shipment date. The PI is your order confirmation document and the basis for payment.
Standard payment is T/T 30% advance with the balance against copy of shipping documents. Irrevocable L/C at sight is also accepted. Production begins once the advance payment is received or the L/C is confirmed. For established customers, alternative terms can be discussed.
For stocked grades, we allocate coil and process it to your width and condition (slitting, cut-to-length, annealing). For custom orders, we run the full process route — cold rolling, spheroidizing annealing, slitting or leveling. You can read more about each step on our processing services page.
Our inspection team verifies chemical composition, mechanical properties (tensile, hardness), dimensions (thickness, width, length) and surface quality. For annealed strip, hardness and spheroidization are checked. Results are compiled into a Mill Test Certificate (MTC) per heat / per coil.
Finished coils or sheets are packed in export packaging with rust prevention (VCI paper, waterproof wrapping, steel or wooden pallets). We book the vessel, load the container and obtain the Bill of Lading (B/L). For FOB terms, responsibility transfers at Shanghai Port; for CIF / CFR / DDP, we handle freight to destination.
The full document set is sent to you (or to your bank under L/C): Mill Test Certificate (MTC), commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading (B/L), and Certificate of Origin (CO) if requested. Once the balance payment is received, original documents are couriered or released by telex.
Standard documents are included with every order. Additional certificates and inspection reports can be arranged on request.
| Document | Abbreviation | Included | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Test Certificate | MTC | Every coil | Chemistry, mechanicals, processing history, heat traceability |
| Commercial Invoice | — | Every shipment | Customs declaration, payment basis |
| Packing List | — | Every shipment | Coil / sheet count, weights, package dimensions |
| Bill of Lading | B/L | Every ocean shipment | Carrier receipt, title document |
| Certificate of Origin | CO | On request | Preferential tariff, customs clearance |
| Third-party Inspection | — | On request | SGS / BV / other nominated inspector |
These grade families share material, processing or application territory with the topic on this page.
SAE1045 / C45 grades balancing strength and formability for induction-hardened parts.
SPHC / Q235 / Q345 scale-free coils with oil coating, cost-effective for structural and tube applications.
Send your grade, thickness × width, quantity and destination. We will reply with a quote and confirmed lead time within one working day.