Non-ferrous mineral products for long-term supply to China
Drawing on our coverage of Chinese end-users, smelters, processors and large traders, we provide overseas suppliers with full-chain service from supply matching to financial settlement. The core value: sellers can enter China's non-ferrous consumption market in a controlled way without directly handling the complex work of buyer screening, testing, customs clearance and payment settlement.
| Copper Segment | Lead-Zinc Segment | Tin-Tungsten Segment |
|---|---|---|
| Copper concentrate | Lead concentrate | Tin concentrate |
| Refined copper / Cathode copper | Zinc concentrate | Tungsten concentrate |
| Secondary copper | Refined lead (unwrought) | Refined tin |
| Wire rod / Billet | Unwrought zinc | Tungsten powder / Tungsten carbide |
| Aluminium Segment | Minor Metals |
|---|---|
| Unwrought aluminium, aluminium ingots | Antimony and its products |
| Unwrought aluminium alloy | Tantalum, niobium and their products |
| Secondary pure-aluminium feedstock | Bismuth and its products |
| Secondary wrought / cast aluminium-alloy feedstock | Unwrought magnesium and magnesium powder |
Matching a cooperation path by supply location, inventory status and export capability
| Type | Definition | Entry Point for Cooperation |
|---|---|---|
| Type A · Origin Supplier | Resource holders such as mine owners and washing plants. | Competitive pricing; can be routed via Type-B traders, or mandate us to run competitive bidding with Chinese buyers. |
| Type B · Distribution-Hub Trader | Traders holding spot inventory at international hubs such as Thailand. | Ample inventory, familiar with L/C and FCA/FOB operations — the main counterparties in the international market. |
| Type C · Exporter to China | Professional entities with mature export-to-China qualifications. | Familiar with China customs standards and origin certificates such as FORM E; can contract directly. |
Procurement practice: due to geopolitics and local policy environments, we generally do not buy at the mine in origin countries such as Myanmar or Laos. For these countries it is better for the title-holder to move goods to a border port for FCA delivery, or to trade as bonded-warehouse spot via a hub such as Thailand.
Align delivery responsibility and pricing units first, then move to samples and contracts
| Term | Meaning | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| FCA | The seller hands the goods to the buyer's nominated carrier at a named place; the seller handles export clearance. | Land ports, rail stations. |
| FOB | The seller loads the goods onto the buyer's nominated vessel at the port of shipment; the seller handles export clearance. | Sea ports such as Laem Chabang (Thailand) and Hai Phong (Vietnam). |
| CIF China bonded warehouse | The seller bears freight and insurance for the whole journey, delivering the goods to a designated Chinese port customs bonded warehouse. | Used when the seller can organise international logistics. |
| Bonded-warehouse spot | Inspection and transfer of title completed inside a bonded warehouse at a hub such as Thailand. | Spot trades for goods already stored in a bonded warehouse. |
| Unit | In Plain Terms | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Metric tonne unit (MTU) | The price per 1% grade in one tonne of ore. | Base quotation for concentrate products. |
| Metal tonne | The pure-metal quantity after deducting impurities. | The final settlement unit. |
| Dry tonne / Wet tonne | Dry tonne excludes moisture; wet tonne is the actual weighed weight. | Port weighing and moisture conversion. |
| Physical tonne | A transitional unit converted by actual grade. | Used for intermediate reference and conversion. |
Three Cooperation Models & an Eight-Step Common Process
Long-term Strategic Supply
For stable mine sources and annual procurement. Usually 1–3 trial orders first verify grade, impurities, moisture, documents, delivery capability and payment milestones, then move into an annual framework agreement.
Flexible Spot Procurement
For products already stocked at a port, seaport or bonded warehouse. Focus on verifying warehouse receipts, title, test reports, on-site photos/videos and the delivery window.
Chinese-Buyer Bidding Mandate
For when the seller wants multiple Chinese buyers to compete on price. We help organise the supply documentation, sample testing, quotation basis and three-party trade terms.
Clarify product, grade, quantity, price, delivery terms and pricing unit.
Verify title documents, warehouse receipts, mining licences, purchase contracts and export records.
Confirm the pricing basis, inspection standard, delivery time and dispute handling.
Exchange essential information such as commercial registration, export permits, bank accounts and business licences.
Sign a formal sale contract or three-party agreement under the long-term, spot or bidding model.
SGS, Intertek, CCIC and similar agencies sample and assay; samples are sealed by three parties.
Track dispatch, export declaration, loading, transport documents and warehouse-arrival milestones.
The seller submits documents; we pay after review, completing transfer of title and closing the settlement loop.
Match the payment structure to the cooperation model and cargo status
Payment terms should be set with reference to counterparty credit, control of title, inspection milestones and delivery location; the principle is that payment should not run ahead of the evidence of title. For a first transaction we recommend binding payment to verifiable documents.
| Stage / cargo status | Payment terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term agreement — trial orders | Sight L/C | Negotiated against shipping documents; document requirements are the clearest. |
| Long-term agreement — steady state | Usance L/C (90–180 day tenor) | Negotiated against shipping documents; the tenor is negotiable. |
| Long-term agreement — rolling lots | Revolving L/C | The limit is reinstated for each lot under the annual framework, reducing repeated issuance. |
| Bonded-warehouse spot | Sight L/C or T/T | Payment after the warehouse receipt has been endorsed. |
| Border-port FCA | T/T at the delivery point, or sight L/C | Payment against the carrier's receipt. |
| Sea-port FOB | Sight L/C | Negotiated against the full set of shipping documents. |
| CIF China bonded warehouse | Sight L/C or T/T at the bonded warehouse | Payment against customs-clearance proof and the warehouse receipt. |
| First-time small and medium suppliers | 30% T/T before shipment + 70% sight L/C | The prepayment portion can be covered by a bank performance guarantee. |
Standard document checklist
Selected by channel type: commercial invoice, packing list, transport documents (international road waybill / rail waybill / ocean bill of lading), export declaration, third-party inspection report, certificate of origin (such as FORM E) and insurance policy (for CIF).
Match the delivery channel and responsibility boundary to your export capability
| Seller type | Recommended channel | Your responsibility | Our responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mine owner / origin supplier (no China export experience) | FCA land port | Move cargo to your own border port + export declaration | Carrier pick-up + international transport + China clearance |
| Mine owner / origin supplier (with export experience) | CIF China bonded warehouse | Full transport + export and China import clearance | Inspection at the bonded warehouse + payment |
| Type-B hub trader (inventory in Thailand) | FOB Laem Chabang or bonded-warehouse spot | Move cargo to the port of shipment + export declaration | Loading + sea freight + China clearance |
| Type-C exporter to China | CIF China bonded warehouse | Responsible end to end | Inspection + payment |
The ports, delivery points, transport modes and applicable products for each channel are set out in the delivery channel reference.
Delivery channel referenceFind issues before shipment and handle risks before arrival
Direct to end users
We do not stockpile for speculation. Our focus is end-user matching, connecting cargo with Chinese smelters and processors.
Clear payment path
Transactions settle mainly through international letters of credit or bank-supervised joint accounts, reducing exposure to commercial acceptance risk.
Compliance support
We help with the procedures from export permits to China customs clearance, and flag port and policy requirements in advance.
Flexible delivery
We support land-port FCA, rail FCA, sea FOB, bonded-warehouse spot and CIF China bonded warehouse.
Transparent fees
The three cooperation models can be chosen as needed, settlement terms are agreed deal by deal, and service fees and advanced costs are itemised up front.
Please prepare 5 categories of materials and we will assess the most suitable cooperation model
Product name, grade and test reports; cargo location, inventory status and photos/videos; acceptable delivery terms; the title and export-qualification documents you can provide; and the intended cooperation model and delivery channel.