Key takeaways
- A precise RFQ turns a week of back-and-forth into comparable, decision-ready quotes; a vague one returns padded prices you cannot compare.
- Always specify the spec window — MFI, density, K-value, comonomer, or glass-fibre percentage — not just the family. A quote with no MFI or comonomer is two grades pretending to be one.
- Pin the commercial terms: quantity and unit, packaging, the Incoterm with a named port, the payment instrument, and the delivery window.
- State compliance up front (REACH/RoHS, FDA or EU food contact) and require a Certificate of Analysis — it is far cheaper to specify than to dispute.
The quality of a polymer quote is set before any supplier sees it — in the request. A loose RFQ produces a fan of offers that look different because they *are* different: different grades, different Incoterms, different assumptions. A precise RFQ collapses that fan into a handful of tight, comparable numbers you can decide on the same day. The difference is entirely in the specification.
Never ask for a family alone. "PE film grade" or "PP for injection" invites every supplier to quote whatever they are long on. Specify the tested-property window: an MFI range and density for polyolefins, the comonomer for LLDPE, the K-value for PVC, or the glass-fibre percentage for engineering grades. A quote that comes back with no MFI or comonomer is two grades pretending to be one.
| Field | What to specify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Family + application | HDPE/LDPE/LLDPE/PP/PVC/engineering + end use | Anchors the grade and rules out substitutions |
| Spec window | MFI range, density, K-value, comonomer, glass % | Makes quotes comparable like-for-like |
| Quantity + unit | Volume in MT, one-off or recurring | Drives price tier and producer interest |
| Packaging | 25 kg bags on pallets, 1 MT FIBC, bulk | Affects price and container loading |
| Incoterm + port | e.g. CFR Nhava Sheva, FOB Jubail | Fixes the cost and risk split |
| Payment instrument | L/C, D/C, or open account | Sets the financing and risk profile |
| Compliance + CoA | REACH/RoHS, FDA/EU food contact, CoA required | Prevents disputes downstream |
Half the spread between quotes is commercial, not technical. State the Incoterm with a named port and the payment instrument up front. If one supplier quotes FOB and another DAP, the headline numbers are not comparable until you have added freight, insurance, and duty to the FOB offer — and for some destinations that includes antidumping exposure.
If the material has a regulatory destination — EU REACH/RoHS, FDA or EU food contact, or a recycled-content target — say so in the RFQ and require the matching Certificate of Analysis. It is far cheaper to specify a requirement than to discover at the brand owner's audit that it was never met.
OmniaStrata's RFQ form captures these fields by design, then routes the request to vetted suppliers and returns only the quotes that meet the spec. If you would rather start from a blank page, the checklist above is the one our desk uses internally — and a complete sourcing walk-through is one click away.
Frequently asked
Questions on the desk
What should a polymer RFQ include?
Product family and end-application, a full spec window (MFI/density/comonomer for polyolefins, K-value for PVC, glass content for engineering grades), quantity and unit, packaging, the Incoterm with a named port, the payment instrument, the delivery window, any compliance requirements, and a Certificate of Analysis requirement.
Why do my polymer quotes come back so different from each other?
Almost always because the RFQ left the spec or the terms open. Suppliers price the ambiguity — they quote a safe, padded grade or a different Incoterm — and the offers become impossible to compare. Closing the spec window and fixing the commercial terms makes quotes directly comparable on landed cost and risk.
What is the single most important thing on a polymer RFQ?
The spec window. Family plus a tested-property window — an [MFI range](/blog/melt-flow-index-explained) and density for polyethylene, the [comonomer](/blog/polyethylene-grades-hdpe-ldpe-lldpe), a [K-value](/blog/suspension-vs-emulsion-pvc) for PVC, or glass percentage for engineering grades. Without it, you are not comparing like for like.
Should I specify Incoterms and payment terms on the RFQ?
Yes. Name the [Incoterm and port](/blog/incoterms-2020-for-polymer-buyers) and the [payment instrument](/blog/payment-terms-in-polymer-trade) so every quote reflects the same cost-and-risk split. Otherwise one supplier quotes FOB, another DAP, and the cheapest-looking number is not the cheapest landed cost.
General market commentary from the OmniaStrata desk, provided for information only. It is not legal, financial, tax, or trading advice, and it is not an offer or a commitment to any terms. Figures such as price ranges, spreads, financing costs, and credit periods are illustrative market context, not OmniaStrata's rates or terms. Actual contract terms — including price, payment instrument, credit, insurance, and Incoterms — are agreed in writing on a per-transaction basis and at OmniaStrata's discretion. Market conditions change; figures reflect the publication date.