1. Is it a factory or a middleman?
This is the first thing to find out. A factory controls the raw material, the production lines and the loading schedule. A middleman buys from other factories and adds a margin, and every quality problem has to pass through an extra party before it gets solved. Ask for photos and videos from inside the production lines — or, better still, visit the factory yourself or send someone to represent you.
Our factory is in New Damietta, next to Al-Azhar University, and has been operating since 2016. Visits are welcome Saturday to Thursday, 9 am to 6 pm, and you can see the production stages in our photo gallery.
2. What are the written specifications for each quality grade?
“High quality” means nothing without numbers. Ask the supplier for written specifications for each grade: ash content and color, fixed carbon, moisture, burn time and drop test result. A serious supplier puts these numbers in writing and meets them in every shipment.
We produce three quality grades — Platinum, Super Premium and Premium — and the specifications of each are published on our quality & specifications page. We explain the differences between them in our article on coconut charcoal grades.
3. Can you test the product before a large order?
Ask the supplier about samples and how they are sent, then test the charcoal yourself: burn time on the hookah bowl, ash color and amount, smell, and whether the pieces crumble easily. Don’t test just one piece — test several from the same carton, because consistency between pieces matters more than one excellent piece.
4. What is the monthly production capacity?
Production capacity tells you whether the supplier can keep up with repeat orders as your business grows. A small supplier may be fine for a trial container but may fall behind when you need a container every month. Our factory produces 100 tons per month.
5. What is the minimum order quantity?
Most factories sell by the full container. Our minimum order is one 20 ft container carrying 15 tons, and a 40 ft container carries 27 tons. Estimate your market’s needs for a few months before choosing the container size.
6. How long is the lead time?
Ask how long it takes from order confirmation to loading, and have it written into the contract. Our lead time is 15 to 35 days depending on quantity, and we reply to every quote request within 24 hours.
7. What packaging options are there, and can they pack under your brand?
Packaging is part of the product your customer sees. Ask about box weights, the number of pieces per box and whether they can print your own brand. We offer 1 kg, 500 g and 250 g boxes inside 10 kg cartons, or bulk packing in 10, 5 and 3 kg cartons, and we pack under the customer’s own brand. Details are on our packaging page.
8. What are the shipping terms, and from which port?
Decide whether you want a price that includes shipping and insurance to your port (CIF) or whether you will collect from the factory and ship through your own forwarder (EXW). We ship from Damietta, Port Said, Alexandria and Ain Sokhna, and work with most major shipping lines. Read more on our export & shipping page.
9. What payment methods are available?
The payment method sets the level of security for you and the supplier. Bank transfer (T/T) is the most common; a letter of credit (L/C) gives both sides more protection because the bank pays against the shipping documents. Agree on the payment method and the deposit percentage in writing before production starts.
10. Does it have a quality management system?
A quality management certificate means the factory has written procedures for inspection and follow-up, rather than relying on individual judgment. Our factory operates under an ISO 9001 quality management system.
Quick checklist before your first order
- SupplierA factory you can visit
- SpecificationsIn writing for each grade
- QuantityContainer type and number
- Lead timeWritten into the contract
- PackagingBox weights and branding
- ShippingCIF or EXW and port of destination
- PaymentMethod and deposit in writing
When the answers to these questions are clear and in writing, you have removed most of the risk from your first container. Send us a quote request with the product, quality grade and container type, and our export team will reply within 24 hours.