What is minimum order quantity?
Abbreviation: MOQ
Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the smallest amount a supplier will sell in a single order. Metal service centers may set MOQs by weight (e.g., 100 lbs) or dollar value.
Related Terms
Request for Quote(RFQ)
An RFQ (Request for Quote) is a document a buyer sends to suppliers asking for pricing on a specific material, quantity, and specification. It is the standard first step in B2B metal purchasing.
Lead Time
Lead time is the time between placing an order and receiving the material. For service centers, lead times range from same-day (stock items) to 6+ weeks (mill orders or specialty alloys).
Metal Service Center
A metal service center is a distributor that buys metal in large quantities from mills and resells it in smaller quantities with value-added processing such as cutting, sawing, and slitting.