Minimum order quantities and freight both hurt small orders. Neither is insurmountable.
Two things make small orders expensive: minimum order quantities and freight. Both can be worked around.
| Product | MOQ |
|---|---|
| Heating wire | 50–100 kg |
| Resistance strip | 100–200 kg |
| Formed elements | 20–50 pieces |
| Radiant tubes | 5–10 pieces |
Combine sizes. Several wire diameters or strip widths on one order often clears the MOQ.
Accept a surcharge. Many suppliers will run below MOQ for a 20–50% premium.
Use a consolidator. Trading companies combine orders from several buyers, at a higher unit price.
| Mode | Transit | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full container (sea) | 25–40 days | lowest | large volume |
| LCL (sea) | 30–45 days | medium | medium volume |
| Air freight | 5–10 days | high | urgent, small |
| Courier | 3–7 days | highest | samples |
Heating wire is light but bulky. Packing it in wooden crates can push the volumetric weight up sharply.
A 200 kg wire order packed in a crate measured 1.2 CBM. At roughly USD 120/CBM for LCL, that is USD 144 in freight. Repacked in cartons on a pallet it came to 0.6 CBM — half the freight for the same goods.
Prepare: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, mill test certificate, and a fumigation certificate if the packaging is wooden.
Duty depends on the destination and the HS code. Heating alloys typically fall under 7227 or 7505.
