What Is the Minimum Order Quantity for Steel Coils, and How Do Trial Orders Work?
What Is the Minimum Order Quantity for Steel Coils, and How Do Trial Orders Work?
Direct answer: MESCO's minimum order quantity is 5 metric tons for sizes held in stock and 20 metric tons for custom production runs. Trial orders are accepted at the 5 MT stock level, so a first-time buyer can verify coating weight, colour, packing and paperwork on a small parcel before committing to container volumes.
| Scenario | MOQ | Lead time | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size held in stock, no modification | 5 MT | 3-7 business days | Trial order, urgent replenishment |
| Custom coating weight, paint, width or thickness | 20 MT | 15-25 business days | Project supply, OEM programmes |
| Mixed sizes within one container | 5 MT per size | Depends on the slowest item | Distributor stock building |
Why the line sits at 5 MT and 20 MT
The two numbers reflect two different cost structures. A stock size has already absorbed its setup cost - the coil is coated, slit and sitting in the warehouse - so picking 5 MT off the rack costs almost nothing extra.
A custom run does not work that way. Changing coating weight means re-setting the zinc pot or the paint line; changing colour means a paint changeover and a curing oven ramp; changing width means re-slitting or re-rolling. Those costs are fixed, not per tonne, which is why a 5 MT custom order carries the same setup burden as a 20 MT one and prices out badly for both sides.
What actually counts as custom
Anything that is not a size already on the stock list: a coating weight outside the standard ladder, a specific RAL or Pantone colour, a width that is not a standard slitting width, a non-standard thickness, or a special surface treatment such as anti-finger print or a specific skin-pass roughness.
If you are unsure whether your requirement is stock or custom, send the full specification - grade, coating designation, thickness, width and paint system - and it will be classified at quotation stage, normally the same business day.
How a trial order runs in practice
Send the specification and target destination. A quotation follows within 24 hours on business days. Standard samples are free of charge with freight collected, so the material can be inspected before any deposit is paid.
On a 5 MT stock order, production is essentially allocation plus cutting, and the 3-7 business day window covers slitting, inspection, packing and container loading. Once the trial parcel has been accepted, scaling to 20 MT or a full container is a repeat order rather than a new qualification.
