Looking for surplus hot-rolled steel plates, or offering a genuine stock lot? A precise request for quotation (RFQ) helps both parties assess whether a possible supply match is worth pursuing. This guide covers the commercial and technical details that should be established before a buyer and a stockholder discuss a transaction.
Important: This is a practical RFQ checklist, not a claim that AL HOLLAND JA owns material, holds inventory, has secured a supplier, or can guarantee price or shipment. We act as an independent B2B trade intermediary and screen opportunities case by case.
1. Identify the grade precisely
State the required steel grade and applicable product specification. For instance, S235JR under EN 10025-2 is a common European structural steel designation. Older stock documents may refer to St 37-2. These terms should not be treated as permission to substitute material without the buyer’s technical approval. Ask for the mill’s material identification and any available test certificate so the buyer can verify the exact material.
2. Specify whether you need plates, sheets or coils
“Hot-rolled steel” can describe different forms. If your purchase requires flat sheets or plates rather than coils, say so. Include whether cut-to-length stock, cancelled orders, surplus inventory or secondary-quality material may be considered.
3. Provide exact dimensions and tolerances
Share a table showing every requested thickness, width and length in millimetres, alongside the quantity required for each dimension. State tolerances and flatness requirements if they are critical to fabrication. A request such as “2–10 mm S235JR” is a useful starting point, but it is not a complete commercial specification.
4. Define the acceptable condition
Specify whether you accept prime quality only, or whether second-quality, overstock, non-prime or rusty surface stock can be considered. If non-prime material is acceptable, describe the permitted defects rather than using “grade 2” without a definition. Photos, packing lists and condition notes support evaluation; they do not replace technical inspection.
5. Verify stock, location and documents
Suppliers should identify their legal business, current stock location, available tonnage, approximate lot weights, origin if known, and supporting records such as mill certificates, invoice or ownership documents where available. A dated stock list is more useful than a generic catalogue. Buyers should specify whether split loads are acceptable.
6. Align commercial terms before any introduction
Include destination country, requested delivery or collection window, preferred Incoterms where applicable, payment-security expectations and inspection requirements. Confirm whether the buyer will organise transport. Availability, sanctions compliance, customs classification, import restrictions and the intended end use must be reviewed before advancing a proposed transaction.
RFQ checklist for buyers
- Company identity and country
- Steel grade, standard and acceptable alternatives
- Product form: plates, sheets or coils
- Thickness × width × length (mm) by line item
- Total tonnes and allowed partial quantities
- Surface condition and accepted quality level
- Certificates, testing and inspection requirements
- Destination and target timing
- Commercial terms and contact details
Stock-offer checklist for suppliers
- Actual owner/seller and current storage country
- Stock list: grade, sizes and tonnes per dimension
- Prime, secondary, surplus or cancelled-order status
- Clear photographs and available certificates
- Pricing basis, permitted split lots and loading conditions
- Documented stock availability and restrictions
Submit a qualified sourcing enquiry
AL HOLLAND JA reviews business-to-business sourcing and surplus-stock opportunities on an individual basis. We coordinate potential introductions only after appropriate counterparty screening and separate written commercial terms.
Buyer: submit your specifications for review. Suppliers with an actual documented lot can use our trade contact page to describe their offer. Please do not send confidential documents or personal identification until an appropriate channel is agreed.
Technical source for orientation: Tata Steel Netherlands — hot-rolled structural steel. Actual suitability, certificates and standards must be verified by the parties and their competent technical advisers.