Sourcing glossary
RFQ
Also known as: Request for Quotation, Request for Quote, 견적 요청서
A written request that asks several suppliers to quote price, MOQ, lead time and terms against the same product specification, so their offers can be compared like for like.
A useful RFQ states the exact specification (materials, dimensions, finish, packaging, labelling), target quantities, the Incoterm and port you want prices on (for example FOB Ningbo), required certifications and the date you need the goods. Vague RFQs get vague quotes that cannot be compared — one supplier quotes a thinner material, another leaves out packaging.
Ask every supplier to quote in the same format and to state their MOQ, sample cost and production lead time. The lowest unit price is often the one with the most exclusions. See how to negotiate MOQ for using quotes as a starting point for negotiation.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Suppliers
How to Write an RFQ Chinese Suppliers Will Actually Answer
What to put in a request for quotation so a Chinese supplier can price it: the fields, the specs by category, a copy-paste template and a WhatsApp first message.
Updated 2026-10-19 · 7 min read
Compliance
Is Your Order Too Small to Import from China? A Break-Even Test
Why 20 units or a US$100–500 budget rarely pays to import from China: per-shipment fixed costs, a simple break-even test, and six options for small buyers.
Updated 2026-10-19 · 7 min read
Compliance
Buying Branded Goods from China: Counterfeits, Trademarks and Customs
Why Chinese sellers offer 1:1 replicas, what customs does with counterfeit imports in the US, EU and South Africa, and the legal ways to sell branded or own-brand goods.
Updated 2026-10-19 · 8 min read
Suppliers
China Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and When You Need One
What a China sourcing agent actually does, the four types you will meet, typical fees, when an agent beats buying direct, and a checklist to vet one before you pay.
Updated 2026-10-14 · 8 min read
Private label
Product Samples from China: Types, Costs and How to Evaluate Them
Stock, custom, pre-production and golden samples explained: what they cost, who pays, sample fee refunds, express shipping and how to judge a sample properly.
Updated 2026-09-11 · 5 min read
Suppliers
Factory vs Trading Company in China: How to Tell and Which to Use
How to tell a real Chinese factory from a trading company using the business license scope, capital records and audits, plus when a trader is the smarter choice.
Updated 2026-09-02 · 7 min read
Part of Finding Suppliers.