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How to Verify a Chinese Steel Supplier: Mill Test Certificates, SGS Inspection & Samples
Three ways to verify a Chinese steel supplier before wiring money
Direct answer: request (1) EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates whose heat numbers trace to your actual coils, (2) third-party pre-shipment inspection rights (SGS / BV / TÜV) written into the contract, and (3) pre-production samples before mass production. A supplier confident in its quality accepts all three without hesitation.
| Verification step | What to check | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| MTC EN 10204 3.1 | Heat number matches shipped material; chemistry & mechanicals in spec | Certificates without heat numbers or reused PDFs |
| Third-party inspection | SGS/BV booking allowed before shipment; photos & report in English | 'Inspection not possible' or 'extra long lead' |
| Samples | Free sample of actual production material (freight collect) | No sample, or sample differs from production coil |
| Response speed | Quotation ≤24 h with full parameters | Vague answers on grade, tolerance, coating weight |
MESCO's written commitments
Quotation response ≤24 hours on business days; standard samples free of charge (freight collect); mill test certificates with every shipment; third-party inspection welcomed. MOQ 5 MT from stock, 20 MT for customized production.
Print this list and send it to any supplier you are evaluating — including us. We pass all four rows.
