The process at a glance
Buying cable well is mostly about removing ambiguity before copper is booked. Once metal is bought and the line is set up, changes cost time and money. The desk's process puts the decisions in the right order and closes each one in writing, so that the plant, the inspector and you work from the same documents.
| Step | What happens | Closed by |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RFQ | You send constructions, sizes, metres, standard, market, packing and port | Desk confirms the enquiry is complete |
| 2. Shortlist | The desk matches partner plants in the right cluster and checks their reports and listings | Shortlist and quote sent to you |
| 3. Spec sheet | Every layer, print text, drum plan, tests and documents fixed | Spec sheet signed by you |
| 4. Sample or trial drum | Stock sample or paid 10-50 m trial for custom constructions | Written sample approval |
| 5. Copper booking | Deposit paid; plant books copper or aluminium against the quote | Order confirmation and schedule |
| 6. Production | Run scheduled; routine tests recorded per drum | Test records sent to you |
| 7. Inspection | Pre-shipment check of length, print, dimensions, records and packing | Inspection report |
| 8. Loading | Drums loaded, chocked and lashed; documents issued | Balance paid, documents released |
Steps 1 and 2: RFQ and shortlist
A good RFQ names the construction rather than a product name: voltage rating, conductor material and class, cores and size, insulation and sheath, armour if any, the standard and the market. Add metres per size, packing and run lengths, the port and any test or witness requirements. The RFQ checklist lists every field. The desk then shortlists partner plants in the cluster that makes the construction, for example Yixing, Ningjin or Wuwei for power and special cable, Wuhan or Wujiang Qidu for fibre cable, and checks their routine and type test reports and any listing held for that construction in the certifier's public database. See factory audit.
Steps 3 and 4: spec sheet and sample
The spec sheet is the contract for the cable. It fixes conductor class and resistance limit, insulation and sheath thickness, colours, print text, drum type and length per drum, the routine tests per drum, any witnessed tests and the document pack. For a stock construction a short sample is usually enough to check print and dimensions. For a new construction, colour or private label a paid trial drum of 10 to 50 m is made to the spec sheet and approved in writing; see samples and trial orders.
Step 5: copper booking and price
Cable is quoted as the metal price plus a processing fee, because copper and aluminium make up around 80% of the cost according to listed company filings. The quote states its validity, usually a matter of days. After you confirm the order and pay the deposit, the plant books metal against the quoted price. For long or phased projects a copper price adjustment formula linked to LME can be agreed instead, as is common in European contracts. As background only, LME three-month copper reached a record USD 14,875/t intraday on 2026-09-10 (Fastmarkets) and stood near USD 14,315/t on 2026-10-21 (Investing News); the desk does not forecast prices. See the pricing guide.
Steps 6 to 8: production, inspection, loading
During production the plant records conductor resistance and voltage tests on each drum, partial discharge on MV cable, and OTDR traces on fibre drums. You receive the records as they are issued. Before loading, the desk's inspector checks a sample of drums against the spec sheet using ISO 2859-1 sampling where agreed: length by metre marks, print, overall diameter, insulation thickness on cut ends, end caps and drum tags. Details are on testing and inspection; loading and documents are on logistics and shipping.
Payment terms
- 30/70 T/T: 30% deposit by telegraphic transfer to start copper booking and production, 70% balance before shipment once test records and the inspection report are accepted. This is the most common arrangement.
- L/C: a letter of credit for larger or first orders, with the documents the bank must see written into the credit, such as the inspection report and packing list by drum.
Payment terms, Incoterm and schedule are written on the order confirmation. Typical minimums and how lead time is set are on MOQ and lead time. Start with the quote form; a BOQ in any format is accepted.