Notes

Field notes from China's chemical market.

What I see on the ground — pricing, QC, logistics, and the mistakes buyers keep making. Written between plant visits, not in an office.

SEPT 2026

How to read a COA without getting fooled

A certificate of analysis isn't just a piece of paper. The real questions are who tested it, when, and whether the numbers match the batch you're actually receiving. Three things I check on every COA before I forward it to a buyer.

Coming soon →
AUG 2026

Why I don't suggest a full container on the first order

New buyers always want the volume discount. But a trial lot tells you more about the factory than five emails ever will — packing consistency, documentation, how they handle a small order. Scale up once you've seen one container land clean.

Coming soon →
JUL 2026

Seasonal pricing: urea and DAP through the year

China's fertilizer export window isn't uniform. Quota changes, port congestion, and farm demand in SE Asia all move prices through the year. Roughly when I tell buyers to lock in and when I tell them to wait.

Coming soon →
JUN 2026

What SGS inspection actually checks before loading

Buyers ask for SGS, but few know what the inspector does on the plant floor. Sample method, moisture check, bag count, visual grading — and the gaps I've seen where a clean report still didn't mean clean cargo.

Coming soon →