Short, actionable playbooks for the moments that matter most. Each one is a sequence you can follow before money or material changes hands.
Verify a mill test certificate (EN 10204 3.1)
A practical routine for confirming that the steel you ordered matches the certificate you were sent.
1Identify the issuing mill and the heat numbers on the certificate.
2Contact the mill directly through an official channel — not via the trader.
3Confirm the heat numbers exist and match the stated grade and chemistry.
4Request the native certificate file and inspect the signature and stamp.
5Plan an independent PMI test on arrival to confirm the actual material.
Confirm a supplier is a real manufacturer
How to tell a genuine mill from a trading shell using borrowed credentials.
1Look up the business license on the official GSXT registry.
2Check that the legal name matches the contract and bank account exactly.
3Ask for a live, unscripted video walk-through of the production line.
4Commission an independent on-site audit for larger or first-time orders.
5Cross-check any export history and references independently.
Protect a wire transfer from redirection
Stop payment-redirection fraud, the single most expensive scam in the trade.
1Lock banking details into the signed contract at the outset.
2Treat any mid-deal request to change the account as a hard stop.
3Confirm details by phone to a number you verified earlier — not one in the email.
4Reject beneficiary accounts in third countries or personal names.
5For first orders, prefer a letter of credit or escrow over a deposit wire.
Specify inspection so it actually protects you
Inspection only helps if it covers the right stages with the right scope.
1Require full container-loading supervision, not just door photos.
2Have the inspector photograph every layer and reconcile weights.
3Add PMI and dimensional checks for grade-sensitive products.
4Define rejection criteria and tolerances in the contract.
5Receive the timestamped report before authorizing the balance payment.
Country import guides
Importing into a specific market? Each guide covers the local certification regime, customs clearance, entry ports, and the fraud patterns most reported on that China trade lane.