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How to book an independent pre-shipment inspection for steel, what to ask the inspector to check, and how to read the report before you pay the balance.
Short answer: book an independent inspector to check your goods before they are loaded, agree in the contract exactly what will be checked, make sure the samples come from your actual goods, and pay the balance only after you have read the report.
When to book
Book once production is finished and the goods are packed, before loading. Most inspection companies need a few working days' notice. Agree the inspection date with the seller in writing, so the goods are ready and nothing is loaded before the inspector arrives.
Who to choose
Choose the inspection company yourself: an international company such as SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek, or an independent inspector you trust. You hire and pay the inspector, and the report comes to you. An inspector chosen and paid only by the seller works for the seller.
What to agree before the inspection
Write the inspection scope into the contract, so neither side can argue later:
- Quantity and weight, and how weight is measured: actual weighing or theoretical weight.
- Dimensions and tolerances: thickness, width, length, outside diameter and wall thickness.
- Surface condition: rust, scratches, laps, cracks and other defects.
- Coating, for galvanized or coated steel: coating mass, for example by a triple-spot test under ASTM A653.
- Marking: the heat or batch numbers on the steel must match the mill test certificate.
- Packing and loading condition.
- How many pieces will be sampled, and which laboratory tests are needed, such as chemical analysis, tensile, bend or impact tests.
- Photographs of every check, with the markings visible.
What inspectors usually check by product
| Product | Typical checks |
|---|---|
| Plate | Thickness at several points, width, length, flatness, surface; ultrasonic testing if your order requires it |
| Coil | Thickness and width across the coil, coating mass, surface, coil weight and inner diameter |
| Pipe and tube | Outside diameter, wall thickness, length, straightness, end finish; hydrostatic and other test records |
| Rebar | Diameter or weight per metre, rib shape, bend and rebend tests |
How to read the report
A useful report has:
- Your contract or order number, and the place and date of the inspection.
- How many pieces were checked, and which ones.
- Measured values for each check, not just "OK".
- Photographs showing the markings and heat numbers, matched to the certificate.
- Any non-conformity, listed clearly, with the inspector's conclusion.
Be careful with a report that has no photographs, uses only general wording, was made somewhere other than where your goods are, or cannot be linked to your heat numbers.
If the report shows a problem
Do not pay the balance yet. Ask the seller in writing to replace or rework the goods, and to book a new inspection. If you decide to accept the goods anyway, agree any price change in writing first.
For the full 10-point checklist, see How to buy steel from China without getting scammed. To check the certificate itself, see our scam alerts, which include how to spot a fake mill test certificate.
How it works when your contract is with SinoAli
You choose the inspection company (SGS, BV or any third party). We send you the inspection report before the goods are loaded, and you pay the balance only after you have seen it. If the goods fail inspection, they are not shipped: we arrange replacement goods and a new inspection, and if the replacement still fails, we refund your full deposit within 7 working days.
Questions buyers ask
Who pays for the inspection? Usually the buyer, because the inspector works for you. Agree it in the contract.
Is a video call enough instead of an inspector? A video call helps you see the goods, but it is not an independent inspection with measured values and samples. For important orders, use an inspector.
Can the inspector also take samples for laboratory tests? Yes. Say in the contract which tests are needed and how many samples will be taken.
