An overseas metal purchase is only as reliable as the paperwork behind it. Missing or incorrect documents stall customs clearance, delay payment and tie up working capital. Here is the document set a complete copper or aluminium consignment should include.
1. Commercial Invoice
The legal record of the sale — product description, quantity, unit and total value, incoterm and payment terms. Customs and your bank both rely on it, so accuracy here prevents downstream disputes.
2. Packing List
Bundle, coil or ingot counts, net and gross weights and package dimensions. It lets the receiving side reconcile what arrived against what was ordered.
3. Mill Test Certificate (MTC)
The composition report for the material supplied — the document that proves the metal meets the grade you ordered. For non-ferrous metal this is the single most important quality document.
4. Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Confirms the tested chemical and, where relevant, physical properties of the consignment, giving traceability back to the production lot.
5. Certificate of Origin
Issued through a chamber of commerce, it states the country of manufacture — often required for customs clearance and for preferential duty treatment under trade agreements.
6. Bill of Lading
The carrier's document of title and proof of shipment. It is central to releasing goods at destination and to documentary payment such as a letter of credit.
What to ask your supplier
Before placing an order, confirm in writing which documents will accompany the shipment and who issues each. A supplier who hesitates here is a risk. Every ZeVo Metals consignment ships with the full set above, prepared to clear customs and satisfy your bank.