The Copper Scrap RFQ: 12 Specifications International Buyers Should Put in Every Purchase Request

A copper scrap RFQ should do more than ask a supplier for a price per metric ton. It should define exactly what material the buyer wants, how quality will be measured, how the shipment will be loaded, how the price will be calculated, and what happens if the delivered material does not match the agreed specification.

This matters particularly with copper wire scrap. Terms such as Millberry, Bare Bright, No. 1 copper wire and Berry are useful commercial references, but they should not replace a written purchase specification. ReMA’s copper specifications distinguish grades such as Barley, Berry and Birch, while commercial descriptions can vary between markets. The safest RFQ therefore converts the grade name into measurable requirements.

For international buyers, the objective is simple: make supplier quotations comparable before negotiating the price.

Why a Copper Scrap RFQ Needs More Than a Grade Name

Two suppliers can both quote “Millberry copper scrap” while offering materially different cargo. One may specify clean, bare, uncoated wire with tightly controlled contamination; another may use the same trade name while leaving wire diameter, solder, tin, oxidation, moisture, insulation residue and foreign material undefined.

That creates problems later. A buyer may compare two prices that appear different but are actually based on different material assumptions. The dispute then moves from the quotation stage to inspection, loading, customs clearance or destination settlement.

A good RFQ prevents this by separating the specification into four questions:

• What is the material?
• How will conformity be measured?
• How will it be shipped?
• How will the final commercial settlement work?

The 12 Specifications Every International Copper Scrap RFQ Should Include

1. Material grade and commercial classification

Start with the exact copper scrap grade required. If the buyer wants Millberry, state the commercial description and the applicable grade reference rather than writing only “copper scrap.”

For example:

• Product: Copper wire scrap
• Commercial grade: Millberry / Bare Bright
• Reference: ReMA/ISRI specification or equivalent agreed specification
• Use: Secondary copper refining / copper rod or wire production

Do not assume that a trade name automatically defines every physical and chemical characteristic. The written specification should control the contract.

2. Copper content and chemical specification

If chemistry matters to the buyer’s process, state the required copper basis and identify which test method or certificate will establish compliance.

A buyer might write:

“Copper content: minimum ___% Cu by agreed assay method. Seller to provide lot-specific Certificate of Analysis.”

Avoid automatically inserting “99.99%” simply because the material is marketed as Millberry. Market terminology is not a substitute for an assay. Any exact purity requirement should be a contractual specification supported by testing.

Where relevant, buyers can also specify maximum limits for elements or contaminants such as iron, lead, zinc, tin, aluminium, phosphorus or other process-sensitive constituents.

3. Physical form, wire diameter and preparation

Describe what the buyer expects the material to look like when opened at the loading or receiving facility.

Depending on the application, the RFQ may specify:

• bare copper wire
• uncoated and untinned material
• unalloyed copper
• minimum or acceptable wire diameter
• straight wire, coils, bundles or bales
• maximum bale dimensions or unit weight

This is especially important because “wire scrap” can describe many different physical forms. If diameter or preparation affects the buyer’s processing economics, it belongs in the RFQ.

4. Contamination and prohibited materials

One of the most important sections of a copper scrap RFQ is the free-of clause.

For high-grade copper wire scrap, the buyer should clearly state whether the shipment must be free from:

• insulation and plastic
• rubber
• brass or bronze
• aluminium
• iron and steel attachments
• soldered wire
• tinned or plated wire
• burnt wire
• excessive oil or grease
• non-metallic foreign material

If a small tolerance is acceptable, define it numerically. “Clean” is useful as a description but weak as a settlement standard unless the contract explains how cleanliness will be judged.

5. Moisture and foreign-material tolerance

Moisture is not simply a quality issue; it can affect the relationship between gross weight, net metal weight and the economics of the shipment.

Where relevant, the RFQ should specify:

• maximum moisture percentage
• whether moisture is included in the quoted weight
• how moisture will be measured
• maximum non-metallic contamination
• how contaminated material will be treated during settlement

If no numerical tolerance is commercially appropriate, the RFQ should at least require the seller to state its proposed moisture and contamination basis in the quotation.

6. Quantity, shipment size and contract volume

Never write only “large quantity.” Give suppliers a commercial quantity structure.

Actual container payload depends on the material, packaging, equipment, port restrictions and applicable weight limits. The RFQ should therefore ask the supplier to confirm the expected net payload rather than treating a generic container figure as guaranteed.

7. Packaging and container-loading method

Packaging should be defined before a supplier calculates its offer. Copper wire scrap may be shipped in loose bundles, pressed bales, coils, jumbo bags or another agreed configuration.

Ask the supplier to state:

• packing type
• approximate unit weight
• number of units per container
• net and gross weight
• container type
• loading method
• how the cargo will be secured for transport

The buyer should also request loading photographs showing the material before and during container sealing when this is part of the agreed inspection procedure.

8. Origin, traceability and available supply

Ask for the actual origin of the material and the seller’s available supply capacity. “Africa origin” or “global origin” is often too broad for procurement purposes.

A useful RFQ asks for:

• country of origin
• loading port
• stock location
• available quantity
• monthly supply capacity
• source or collection channel where commercially relevant
• traceability documents available with the cargo

For a long-term contract, buyers should distinguish between current stock and repeatable monthly supply. A supplier capable of producing one trial shipment is not automatically capable of maintaining the same specification for twelve months.

9. Inspection, sampling and laboratory testing

Define inspection before the quotation is accepted. Otherwise, “inspection included” can mean different things to different parties.

The RFQ should state:

• inspection company, if required
• inspection location
• sampling procedure
• who appoints the inspector
• who pays the inspection cost
• which parameters are tested
• when the inspection takes place
• what happens if the cargo fails

For example, the buyer may request an independent inspection at the loading point before container sealing. The contract should then define how the inspection report affects acceptance and payment.

Do not rely on a generic statement such as “SGS approved.” The important question is what exactly was inspected, sampled and tested?

10. Pricing basis and quotation formula

Copper scrap prices should be quoted against a clearly defined pricing basis. The buyer should not compare a fixed USD/MT offer against an LME-linked offer without understanding the difference.

A commercial RFQ can request the supplier to provide:

• USD price per metric ton
• pricing benchmark, if any
• premium or discount
• pricing date or quotation period
• assay or recovery adjustments
• freight included or excluded
• offer validity period

A simplified comparison model is:

Quoted material value = benchmark reference ± agreed differential

The exact formula should be negotiated according to the grade, market, destination, quality and contract structure. LME publishes specifications for its Grade A copper contract, but a copper scrap transaction is not automatically an LME Grade A transaction. The benchmark and adjustment mechanism must therefore be stated explicitly.

11. Incoterm, loading port, destination and shipment schedule

Every international RFQ should tell the supplier where the commercial responsibility changes hands.

Specify:

• preferred Incoterm, such as FOB, CFR or CIF
• named loading port
• destination port
• target shipment date
• transit or delivery expectations
• partial shipment requirements
• container type where relevant

For example, “CIF Shanghai, Incoterms 2020” is commercially clearer than simply asking for a “delivered price to China.” The named port and agreed Incoterm define which costs and responsibilities belong to each party.

12. Documents, payment terms and quotation requirements

The final section should tell the supplier exactly what must accompany the offer and shipment.

Depending on the transaction, the buyer may request:

• commercial invoice
• packing list
• certificate of origin
• weight certificate
• Certificate of Analysis where applicable
• inspection certificate
• bill of lading
• export/customs documentation
• photos of cargo and container loading

Payment terms should also be explicit. If the buyer prefers LC, T/T or another structure, state the preferred mechanism and ask the supplier to identify any alternative terms. Avoid leaving payment arrangements until after a supplier has already priced the cargo.

A Buyer-Ready Copper Scrap RFQ Template

The following format can be copied into an email or procurement portal:

Subject: RFQ – Copper Wire Scrap / Millberry – [Quantity] MT – [Destination]

1. Product: Copper wire scrap – Millberry / Bare Bright
2. Grade reference: ReMA/ISRI or equivalent agreed specification
3. Copper content: Minimum ___% Cu; assay method to be stated
4. Physical specification: Bare, uncoated, unalloyed; wire diameter ___; preparation ___
5. Prohibited material: No insulation, aluminium, brass, solder, tin/plating, iron/steel attachments, burnt wire or excessive foreign material unless specifically declared
6. Moisture/contamination: Maximum ___% / buyer specification ___
7. Quantity: Trial ___ MT; shipment ___ MT; monthly ___ MT; contract ___ months
8. Packaging: Supplier to quote for ___; confirm net/gross weight and container payload
9. Origin: Country ___; loading port ___; stock location ___; monthly supply capacity ___ MT
10. Inspection: Independent inspection at loading; sampling/testing procedure to be confirmed
11. Price: USD ___/MT on [FOB/CFR/CIF] basis; state benchmark, premium/discount and validity
12. Delivery and documents: Destination ___; shipment window ___; required export/shipping documents ___; payment preference ___

Please include: company profile, specification sheet, recent representative cargo photographs, available quantity, loading port, inspection options and quotation validity.

How Buyers Can Compare Supplier Quotations Properly

Once RFQs return, do not rank suppliers on headline price alone. Build a comparison matrix.

This converts a supplier comparison from “Supplier A is $100 cheaper” into “Supplier A is $100 cheaper under a comparable specification and inspection basis.” That is a much more useful procurement decision.

The Most Important Rule: Define the Settlement Mechanism Before the Shipment

A strong RFQ should anticipate what happens if the cargo differs from the agreed specification.

For example, the contract can define how a buyer will handle:

• assay below the contractual minimum
• excess contamination
• excess moisture
• incorrect quantity
• non-conforming wire or mixed metal
• inspection discrepancies

The exact commercial remedy depends on the transaction, but the principle is universal: the specification and the settlement method should be agreed before loading, not invented after the cargo arrives.

Why This Matters When Sourcing Copper Scrap From Tanzania or Africa

International buyers sourcing from Tanzania or other African origins should add one more layer of discipline to the RFQ: logistics and documentation must be treated as part of the commodity transaction.

A competitive copper scrap offer is not only about the material price. The buyer also needs a realistic loading plan, export documentation, inspection arrangements, container availability and a clearly identified port of loading.

Tamim International works with buyers across agricultural and industrial commodity supply and can structure copper-related inquiries around the buyer’s required grade, quantity, destination, inspection and delivery terms.

For a product-level inquiry, see Copper Wire Scrap. Buyers comparing copper wire scrap with refined copper can also review Copper Wire Scrap vs Copper Cathode.

Related Copper Procurement Resources

• What Is Millberry Copper Wire Scrap? How International Buyers Should Specify It
• Copper Cathode Supply
• Copper Concentrate Supply

Frequently Asked Questions

What does RFQ mean in copper scrap trading?

RFQ means Request for Quotation. It is a buyer’s formal request for suppliers to quote against a defined product, quantity, quality, delivery and commercial specification.

Should a copper scrap RFQ mention Millberry?

Yes, if Millberry is the buyer’s intended commercial grade. However, the RFQ should also describe the physical and quality requirements because trade terminology can vary between markets.

Should buyers specify 99.9% or 99.99% copper?

Only if that is the buyer’s actual contractual requirement and the assay method is defined. A trade name alone should not be treated as proof of a particular copper percentage.

Is SGS inspection enough?

An independent inspection can reduce transaction risk, but the value comes from the agreed sampling, testing and acceptance procedure. The RFQ should define what the inspector is expected to verify.

What is the most commonly missed item in copper scrap RFQs?

Contamination and settlement terms are frequently left vague. Buyers should define prohibited materials, tolerances, inspection and the commercial consequence of non-conforming cargo before agreeing the shipment.

Final Buyer Checklist

Before sending a copper scrap RFQ, confirm that it answers all twelve questions:

1. What exact grade is required?
2. What copper content or chemical limits apply?
3. What physical form and wire dimensions are acceptable?
4. What materials are prohibited?
5. What moisture and contamination tolerances apply?
6. What quantity is required per shipment and per month?
7. How must the cargo be packaged and loaded?
8. What origin and supply capacity are required?
9. How will sampling and inspection be performed?
10. What is the pricing benchmark or formula?
11. What Incoterm, port and shipment schedule apply?
12. What documents and payment terms are required?

The better the RFQ, the better the comparison. In copper scrap procurement, precision at the quotation stage can prevent much larger costs later in inspection, logistics, quality disputes and rejected cargo.