Start with the trade you want to make
MetalSite connects people buying and selling physical metals. Buyers can post a material requirement; sellers can list available stock or respond to a published buy request. The marketplace covers metal grades, forms, quantities and commercial terms, with a private workspace for proposals and conversations.
Create your workspace to manage your listings, buy requests, public trader profile and deal rooms. Submitted listings, RFQs, company profiles and trader profiles go through moderation before publication.
What is an RFQ?
RFQ means request for quotation. It tells suppliers exactly what you need and asks them to propose a price and commercial terms. On MetalSite, a buy request is an RFQ.
A useful metal RFQ includes the material and grade, applicable standard, product form, dimensions and tolerances, quantity and unit, destination, delivery rule, response deadline and target delivery date. Add certification, inspection, packaging and handling requirements so suppliers can quote against the same specification.
For example, a buyer might request 25 tonnes of a stated steel grade in coil form, with a specified thickness, width, coating, mill certificate and delivery destination. That is an illustrative specification, not an active offer.
Post a metal buy request or review example sourcing briefs before writing your own.
How private supplier bidding works
After an administrator publishes an RFQ, signed-in suppliers can send a private proposal. A proposal records quantity, unit price, currency, delivery rule and named place, payment terms, validity and notes. Each supplier has a separate deal room with the buyer.
The RFQ owner can open Compare proposals from their requests dashboard or the request page. It brings received prices and commercial terms into one private comparison. Suppliers cannot open the buyer’s comparison or see competing suppliers’ proposals.
MetalSite marks a lowest entered unit price only among active proposals with matching currency, quantity, unit, delivery rule and named place. The buyer still checks specification, delivery, inspection, counterparty and exclusions. A cheaper entered price does not automatically win.
RFQs, auctions and listed stock serve different needs
- RFQ: the buyer describes a requirement and evaluates private supplier proposals. This is the current bidding workflow.
- Listed stock: a seller publishes material details and a buyer sends a private proposal against that listing.
- Timed auction: participants bid under published rules, a closing clock and an award process. MetalSite does not currently operate timed or automatic-award auctions.
For metal procurement, grade, dimensions, inspection and delivery can matter as much as price. Start with comparable RFQs before treating buying as a price-only contest.
Plan freight before comparing the delivered cost
The freight estimate tool requests provider estimates for ocean containers and supported road routes. Enter the origin, destination, equipment, number of identical load units, gross weight per unit and, for road pallets, dimensions.
Freightos supplies the estimate. Coverage varies by route, and the provider may return no price. A returned range is a planning estimate with a fetch timestamp. Confirm cargo acceptance, pickup date, carrier, handling, surcharges, insurance and final payable price with a forwarder before booking.
Dense coils, heavy bundles, oversized pieces, controlled scrap and high-value metals need particular handling arrangements. A generic estimate does not confirm payload, lifting, stowage or cargo acceptance.
Compare offers on the same named delivery basis. Keep the material subtotal, freight, insurance, duties, taxes and other charges separate so you can see which costs are included. Read the import, export and shipment preparation guide for the document checklist.
Negotiate, agree and record the next steps
Use the private deal room to clarify the specification, commercial terms and evidence. The recipient can accept a valid proposal in principle or decline it; the proposer can withdraw it. An accepted proposal can become a private order coordination record.
Before committing to the trade, confirm the legal parties, material evidence, inspection process, final contract, delivery responsibilities and dispute terms. Arrange payment protection with the chosen bank or authorised provider. MetalSite does not hold money or operate escrow.
Carrier booking, automatic tracking events and customs clearance remain with your freight and customs providers. The order workspace can record reported progress and external references; it does not itself confirm that cargo has moved or customs has released it.
Build a credible trading profile
Publish a clear business profile and accurate material information. Verification labels are controlled by administrators. Public ratings are moderated reports connected to completed order records, rather than a guarantee of a future transaction. Review the counterparty and the evidence for the particular trade.
Explore the marketplace, browse current RFQs or find suppliers to choose your next step.