Guide

New to trade? That’s fine

A plain-language walk-through of our process and the terms you’ll see on this site. Anything more specific — check the FAQ or send us an inquiry.

How a deal moves

① Inquiry

Tell us the product, quantity and delivery terms. For scrap, send the grade with photos to speed things up.

② Review & quote

We confirm volume, spec and timing, then reply with a quote. If it references a listed offer, we align to that offer directly.

③ Contract

Once terms align, a contract fixes volume, price, delivery and payment terms. Knowing your counterparty is half the job — we only proceed on reviewed deals.

④ Delivery

Shipping proceeds under the agreed delivery terms, with documentation handed over alongside the goods.

Delivery / pricing terms

These appear in the "pricing basis" column on the products page. The same item can price differently depending on delivery terms.

EXWEx-works from an exchange warehouse. Freight from that point is the buyer’s responsibility.

FOBFree on board — the seller covers costs up to loading at the named port.

CFRCost and freight — the seller pays freight to the destination port; insurance is separate.

CIFCost, insurance and freight to the destination port, both paid by the seller.

DELDelivered — goods are handed over at a named place such as a warehouse or plant.

How to read our prices

LME cash is a subscription assessment with no free official source. We publish an estimate from COMEX plus a regional spread; the COMEX–LME spread widens sharply on US tariff news — reconfirm before contracting.

Regional premiums such as the US Midwest Premium are real surcharges added on top of the LME price. They have spiked on tariff and logistics shocks, so we list them as separate instruments.

With scrap, the grade is the price. Purity, insulation and moisture move the value materially — send the ISRI grade with photos and an assay to get a firm quote faster.

Wholesale produce prices will be sourced from KAMIS (Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Information). Until that feed is connected we show no price — publishing an unverified number is not something this table does.

FAQ →Send an inquiry