How we work
Quantities, lead times, trade terms, payment and the document set that ships with your cargo. If a term here does not fit your procurement rules, state it in the enquiry and we will confirm whether we can meet it.
What buyers ask before they order
Five questions that come up before a first order, each answered in the section below.
Mill test certificates that don't match the steel
Forged or recycled MTCs are a documented problem in steel trading. Material ships with the certificate for its own heat number, and SGS, BV or your own surveyor can witness sampling if requested at order stage.
Jump to answerAnti-dumping duties on the landed cost
Several markets apply anti-dumping duties to specific Chinese steel plate categories, and rates vary by product code and destination. Check the current rate for your HS code with your own customs broker before ordering — accurate invoicing and certificate of origin are provided so the calculation is straightforward.
Jump to answerRust starting during the sea voyage
A multi-week voyage is enough for unprotected plate to corrode, particularly with seawater contact. Material is oiled or shop-primed on request, bundled on timber dunnage, and marked before loading.
Jump to answerA minimum order too large for a repair job
Industry minimums are typically 20 to 25 tonnes, roughly a container load. Stock held in Wuhan can be ordered from 1 tonne.
Jump to answerPaying a deposit and losing contact with the supplier
Letter of credit at sight is the preferred route: your bank releases payment only against compliant documents. Where a deposit applies, it is 30% with the balance against a copy bill of lading.
Jump to answerMinimum order quantity
Material held in stock
From 1 tonne
Bundles are broken to order. The minimum on any size held in stock is one tonne, which covers repair-yard quantities of a few plates.
Full container load
Approx. 25 tonnes
A 20ft container is weight-limited to roughly 25 to 28 tonnes of plate.
Mill order
Per rolling batch
Rolled-to-order material is subject to the mill's minimum rolling batch for that grade and size, confirmed on enquiry.
Lead times
Lead time runs from order confirmation to despatch from the port of loading. Which figure applies depends on whether the size is held in stock or rolled to order.
| Scenario | Time | What happens during it |
|---|---|---|
| From stock | 3-7 days | Ex-warehouse Wuhan. Material is already in stock against a heat number. |
| Mill order, standard grade and size | 30-45 days | Steelmaking and casting, rolling, heat treatment, inspection. The rolling window is confirmed once the mill schedules the heat. |
| Non-standard size or low-temperature grade | 45-60 days | Grades requiring impact testing at lower temperatures, or sizes outside the normal rolling programme. |
| Wuhan to port of loading | 1-5 days | Yangtze barge 3 to 5 days, road 1 to 2 days. This leg is included in the figures above. |
Vessel name and voyage number are sent when the cargo is despatched.
Shipping and trade terms
- 1
Nhà máy và kho hàng tại Vũ Hán
Lô hàng bắt đầu từ nhà máy WISCO tại Vũ Hán, bên sông Trường Giang. Thép tấm tồn kho được giữ tại đây từ 1 tấn, tách lẻ theo đơn hàng; đơn đặt trực tiếp từ nhà máy được cán theo lô cán tối thiểu cho mác và kích thước đó.
- 2
Vận chuyển nội địa
Vũ Hán là cảng sông nội địa, nên thép tấm trước tiên được vận chuyển vào đất liền — bằng sà lan trên sông Trường Giang hoặc đường bộ — để đến cảng nước sâu.
- 3
Xếp hàng FOB tại Thượng Hải hoặc Ninh Ba
Cảng nước sâu thường là Thượng Hải hoặc Ninh Ba, nơi lô hàng được xếp theo điều kiện FOB; giá báo đã bao gồm chặng vận chuyển nội địa này. Có thể sắp xếp cảng xếp hàng khác theo yêu cầu.
- 4
Vận chuyển đường biển đến điểm đến
Từ đó, lô hàng được vận chuyển bằng đường biển đến điểm đến. Điều kiện CIF bao gồm đặt tàu và bảo hiểm hàng hải, do đó lô hàng được một bên xử lý toàn bộ; điều kiện FOB và CFR cũng có sẵn, EXW theo yêu cầu.
Incoterms: FOB / CFR / CIF
CIF covers vessel booking and marine insurance, so the shipment is handled by one party. FOB and CFR are available, and EXW on request.
Packing: Export seaworthy
Bundled and strapped with steel bands, timber dunnage, and anti-rust oil applied as standard; a shop primer coating can be arranged on request. Each bundle is marked with grade, heat number and dimensions. Containers are lashed and break-bulk is secured for the voyage.
Value-added processing
Beyond supplying certified plate, we coordinate the finishing work buyers commonly need before material goes to the yard — specify what you need when you request a quote.
Profile cutting
CNC flame or plasma cutting to your drawing or DXF file, subcontracted to qualified cutting shops near the mill.
Shot blasting
Surface preparation to a specified grade such as Sa 2.5 per ISO 8501-1, subcontracted, available on request.
Shop priming
Zinc-based weldable shop primer applied after blasting, subcontracted, available on request.
Edge beveling
Standard single-V or double-V (X) edge preparation to your welding procedure, subcontracted.
Ultrasonic testing
In-house ultrasonic testing to classification-society or customer-specified acceptance criteria.
Cutting, blasting, priming and beveling are subcontracted to qualified shops we work with regularly; ultrasonic testing is done in-house.
Typical geometry
On-site video
Real footage of the warehouse and processing floor, added as it is filmed.
Warehouse
Real on-site video coming soon
Crane operations
Real on-site video coming soon
Plate marking
Real on-site video coming soon
Processing line
Real on-site video coming soon
Payment terms
Thư tín dụng trả ngay không thể hủy ngang
Chứng từ được trình lên ngân hàng của bạn và thanh toán được giải ngân khi chứng từ hợp lệ — L/C không thể hủy ngang là hình thức tài trợ thương mại tiêu chuẩn cho đơn hàng lần đầu hoặc đơn hàng một lần.
T/T, 30% deposit and 70% against copy B/L
The balance falls due once the bill of lading is issued.
Deposit waived after an established order history
Once both parties have completed due diligence and there is an order history, the deposit requirement is waived.
Kiểm tra trước khi giao hàng (PSI)
Kiểm tra trước khi giao hàng được thực hiện dưới sự chứng kiến của giám định viên đăng kiểm, người xác nhận độc lập kết quả thử nghiệm của nhà máy, không qua ZCMetals hay bộ phận chất lượng của nhà máy. Xem các trang chứng nhận và hướng dẫn MTC.
What you receive with the shipment
Customs clearance and class survey both depend on the document set. The cargo ships with:
- Mill test certificate (MTC) to EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, issued per heat
- Classification society certificate copy for the grade supplied
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list with heat numbers, dimensions and piece weights
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin (CO, FORM E or FORM A, whichever applies to your country)
- Insurance policy, for CIF shipments
- Fumigation certificate or non-wood packing declaration
Third-party inspection can be arranged. SGS, BV or your own surveyor can witness sampling or inspect before despatch if requested at order stage.
Annotated guide to reading a mill test certificateSite visits
Material is held across several warehouses in Wuhan. Visits are arranged on request: you can inspect the plate, check the markings and read the certificates on site. For buyers who cannot travel, photographs and video of the specific material are sent before despatch, and SGS, BV or your own surveyor can attend in your place.
Arrange a visitFrom enquiry to delivery
- 1
Enquiry
Send grade, thickness, dimensions and tonnage. Enquiries are answered within 24 hours.
- 2
Quotation
Price, availability and lead time, with a stated validity date on every quotation.
- 3
Order confirmation
Contract covering grade, dimensions, tolerances, classification society, delivery term, payment and the document set.
- 4
Stock release or rolling
Stock is released immediately. Mill orders are scheduled and the rolling window is confirmed to you.
- 5
Inspection and documents
Mill test certificates issued per heat. Third-party or witnessed inspection carried out if requested at order stage.
- 6
Packing and despatch
Export packing, inland leg to Shanghai or Ningbo, loading.
- 7
Documents and tracking
Document set couriered; vessel name and voyage number sent on despatch. Schedule changes are notified as they arise.
Send a specification
Grade, thickness, dimensions and tonnage are enough for a quotation. If payment structure, lead time or a customs document conflicts with your procurement rules, state it in the enquiry.