China supplier RFQ — get accurate quotes from Chinese manufacturers
RFQs for Chinese manufacturers should quote FOB and EXW, state MOQ and tooling, define AQL quality control, list certifications (CE, FDA, LFGB…), and include a Mandarin summary. This generator produces all of that automatically — so you look like an experienced buyer from the first email.
Example excerpt: what suppliers receive
RFQ — Bamboo-lid Glass Jar 500ml · 5,000 units · FOB Shenzhen
Specs (OEM): borosilicate glass, bamboo lid with silicone seal, custom box. Target FOB under €2.90 at 10k units.
QC: AQL major 2.5 / minor 4.0 with drop test + leak test. Pre-shipment inspection in Guangdong, LFGB + REACH reports required.
中文摘要: 500ml玻璃罐, 竹盖硅胶圈, FOB深圳, 首单5000件, 请报EXW和FOB价格, 含开模费与样品费.
See the finished format: download a one-page sample RFQ PDF.
What a China-ready RFQ must include
1. Clear specs + OEM/ODM status
Materials, dimensions, colors, logo method, and whether the design is OEM (your design), ODM (factory design modified), or fully custom. State target price and MOQ expectations upfront.
2. Incoterms: EXW + FOB at minimum
Ask for both EXW (factory gate) and FOB (e.g. FOB Ningbo / Shenzhen) so you can compare factories fairly. Add CIF or DDP to your port if you want landed-cost comparison.
3. Quality control (AQL) + inspections
Define AQL levels (e.g. critical 0 / major 2.5 / minor 4.0), pre-shipment inspection rights, and testing requirements. Factories quote more carefully when QC is explicit.
4. Certifications + compliance
List what your market needs: CE, RoHS, REACH for the EU; FDA / CPSIA for the US; LFGB for food contact. Ask who pays for testing and whether existing certificates can be shared.
5. Packaging, lead time, samples & payment
Retail box vs. bulk, barcodes, lead time for mass production, sample cost and lead time, tooling/mould fees, and payment terms (typically 30% deposit + 70% before shipment).
6. Mandarin summary + response format
A short 中文 summary helps the sales rep forward your RFQ to engineering without translation loss. A response table (unit price by quantity tier, tooling, lead time) makes quotes comparable.
EXW vs FOB vs DDP — when to ask each
| Term | Meaning | Ask it when |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Factory gate, you handle all freight | You have your own forwarder and want the bare factory price |
| FOB | Loaded on ship at e.g. Ningbo / Shenzhen | Always — the baseline for comparing Chinese factories fairly |
| DDP | Delivered to your door, duties paid | You want landed cost without managing customs yourself |
Common mistakes when emailing Chinese suppliers
- Sending only “what's your best price?” with no specs, quantity, or destination port.
- Asking FOB only from one factory and EXW from another — quotes become incomparable.
- Forgetting MOQ, tooling, and sample terms, then being surprised by extra fees.
- Writing a long English-only email that never reaches the engineer who prices the product.
How RFQly fixes this
Describe your product once — RFQly drafts the full structure above in English plus a Mandarin version, with a supplier checklist so every factory replies in the same format. Preview free, unlock for €9, and send the PDF to suppliers on Alibaba, Made-in-China, or direct. Learn the general process in our step-by-step guide to creating an RFQ or see the section-by-section breakdown in our RFQ template with filled example. Posting on Alibaba specifically? Follow our step-by-step Alibaba RFQ posting guide with a paste-in message template.
What a good supplier reply looks like
Because every RFQ asks for the same response format, quotes arrive comparable. One table per supplier, no follow-up rounds to align them — here for the bamboo-lid jar at 3k vs 10k tiers:
| Supplier | 3k units (FOB) | 10k units (FOB) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory A (Shenzhen) | €3.20 | €2.85 | 30 days |
| Factory B (Guangzhou) | €3.35 | €2.80 | 38 days |
Guangdong vs Zhejiang + timing your RFQ
Guangdong factories (Shenzhen / Guangzhou) suit electronics-adjacent goods and fast tooling; Zhejiang (Ningbo / Yiwu) suits drinkware and small commodities with lower MOQs. State your preferred province in the RFQ but allow alternatives — you will see 5-10% price gaps for the same drawing. Avoid sending first RFQs in the 2 weeks before Chinese New Year: replies stall and tooling quotes expire. Ask for CNY pricing validity (60 days) and who owns the mould if you pay tooling.
China RFQ FAQ
What MOQ should I state for China factories?
State first order + annual estimate (e.g. 5k now, 20k/year) and ask for price breaks at 3k / 10k. Factories in Guangdong often accept lower MOQs if you accept their standard packaging.
Should I ask EXW or FOB from Chinese suppliers?
Ask both. FOB Shenzhen / Ningbo is the fair comparison baseline; EXW shows the bare factory price when you run your own forwarder. Add DDP only for landed-cost comparison.
How do samples and tooling work?
Ask separately for sample cost, sample lead time, tooling/mould fee, and who owns the mould. Never combine tooling into unit price — it hides scaling costs.
Do I need a Mandarin summary?
Yes. A 2-3 line 中文 summary lets sales forward your RFQ to engineering without translation loss and typically cuts one clarification round.