· SH Energy editorial
They are not fixed facts about a product. They are commercial terms that follow from production planning. Once you know what drives each one, you can negotiate a structure instead of a discount.
1. What actually drives MOQ
Minimum order quantity usually comes from three costs: the cell lot the factory must buy, the packaging run, and the cost of a test or certification batch for that variant. That is why a popular model can have a lower MOQ than a low-volume variant built from the same cells.
Ask which of the three is driving the number for your model. If the answer is “the lot”, a mixed-model order may solve it; if the answer is “the test batch”, no discount will remove it.
2. Deposit: structure beats percentage
A deposit is a risk allocation, not a discount lever. Too low and your order can lose priority when the factory is full; too high and you carry the risk before anything is inspectable.
What matters more than the percentage is the milestone attached to the balance. Define it as an event you can verify: inspection passed, documents complete, goods handed to the carrier. Write the evidence required for that event into the quotation.
- Deposit on order, balance on inspection — the most common structure.
- Deposit on order, balance on documents — workable when the documents are the real deliverable.
- Full payment upfront — only reasonable with a supplier you have already tested.
3. Split the lead time into three dates
A single “30 days” answer hides the constraint. Ask for three separate dates:
- Production start — when the slot is allocated, not when the order is confirmed.
- Ready for inspection — when the batch can be checked and photographed.
- Handover to carrier — when the booking is confirmed and the dangerous-goods paperwork is accepted.
With three dates you can see which part moves when something slips. With one number you only learn that everything is late.
4. The documents are part of the lead time
Certificates for the exact model, UN 38.3 summaries and MSDS are not paperwork that happens after production; they are inputs to the shipping booking. If a document is missing, the goods sit in the warehouse while the clock runs.
Ask for the document pack before the deposit, not before the shipment. If it is incomplete, you have found the real lead time.
5. Inspection: what to check and when
Inspect at the “ready for inspection” milestone, not at the port. Check the serial numbers against the packing list, compare one nameplate to the certificate, and confirm the accessories are in the box. A photo set from the factory is useful, but it does not replace your own check or a third-party one.
6. Plan the second order before the first ships
Your reorder lead time is set by the same three dates, minus the learning curve. If the first container sells through in six weeks and the reorder takes ten, you will be out of stock. Ask what the production slot looks like for a repeat order and whether the model will still be in production in two quarters.
Copy-ready terms sheet
Where this fits your market
Document requirements differ by destination. See the South Africa, Nigeria and Iraq sourcing pages, or the partner programme if you are planning a dealer line.
Why is the MOQ different for each model?
MOQ usually follows cell lot size, packaging and the cost of a certification or test batch. A high-volume model can have a lower MOQ than a low-volume variant built from the same cells.
Is a lower deposit always better?
No. A deposit that is too low can push the supplier to prioritise other orders, while a deposit that is too high concentrates your risk. What matters is that the milestone attached to the balance is defined and inspectable.
What should the quotation state about lead time?
Three separate dates: production start, readiness for inspection, and handover to the carrier. One total number hides which part is the constraint.
Should the first order be a sample or a mixed container?
A sample verifies the product and the documents. A mixed container tests whether the supplier can plan and pack several models together. If you intend to sell a range, the mixed container is the more useful test.
Discuss a first order
Send the models, quantities and destination to jimmy@sunhongenergy.com, or message the desk on WhatsApp. Related reading: the supplier vetting checklist and the RFQ checklist.
Scope
This guide describes commercial planning practice. Actual MOQ, payment terms and lead times are set by the supplier and must be confirmed in writing for the exact model and order.