Requesting a Fruit Export Quote for China: A Buyer’s RFQ Template

A fruit export quote for China becomes useful when the supplier knows exactly what the buyer wants to receive. An inquiry asking only for the best price for one container leaves many assumptions unresolved. A structured request for quotation helps suppliers respond on a comparable basis and exposes missing decisions before the order is placed.

Describe the product without shorthand

State the fruit, variety or flesh color where relevant, origin requirement and product form. Add size, grade, maturity expectations and the defects that matter to the customer. If the buyer already has a specification, attach the current version and identify which fields may be proposed by the supplier.

Use a quantity basis such as cartons and net kilograms, with a desired range if the final load plan remains open. The word container does not establish the same net product quantity for every fruit, pack or loading arrangement.

Identify the destination and delivery window

Give the entry point or proposed route, receiving city and required window. Explain whether the customer is a wholesale market, retailer, processor or foodservice operation. That context helps the supplier assess suitable packing and timing.

Ask for current availability and a quotation-validity period. Do not assume that a price remains open indefinitely or that a sample lot will still be available when a later order is confirmed. Record what happens if the proposed lot or packing date changes.

Name the trade term and place

A quotation should identify the agreed rule and named place or port, rather than use a three-letter term without context. ICC’s Incoterms 2020 guidance explains the framework for allocating delivery obligations and related risks and costs.

For container or multimodal movements, ICC’s selection checklist is useful when considering the appropriate rule. Ask a qualified trade adviser to review the contract where needed. Keep payment terms, quality acceptance and claims procedures explicit as additional commercial matters.

Assign access and document checks

Ask the supplier to identify the producing or packing establishment and the approval evidence relevant to the product. Have the Chinese importer confirm the current import route, document requirements and any permit obligations.

List the drafts the buyer needs before dispatch and who approves them. Keep the same product description, quantities and lot references across the final shipment pack. A strong RFQ makes these responsibilities visible rather than leaving both sides to assume the other has checked them.

Request evidence that supports a buying decision

Ask for a representative current-lot sample or photographs, packing information and the relevant test or quality records. Explain the trial criteria: appearance, usable yield, performance through ripening or preparation, or another application-specific measure.

Compare quotations in a simple matrix using the same specification and cost basis. Note exceptions separately. A low price for a different grade should not silently outrank a compliant offer. Where a supplier proposes an alternative, evaluate its fit before accepting the change.

Frequently asked questions

What is a concise RFQ starting point?

Use: product and form; grade and size; net quantity; destination; delivery window; carton; trade term and named place; required evidence; and trial or acceptance method.

Should buyers include a target price?

They may do so, but the product and cost scope still need to be defined. A target without a specification can encourage a quotation for a different quality or packing arrangement from the one the customer expects.

Discuss your sourcing requirements

Discuss a China-bound fruit order with HAFAMEX by sharing the product and processing form, destination, quantity, grade, packing and delivery window. Include your importer’s confirmed access and documentation instructions so the proposed supply can be reviewed against the actual order. Contact HAFAMEX.

Related export guides

• Exporting Vietnamese Fruit to China: A Commercial Buyer’s Roadmap
• Vietnam–China Fruit Logistics: Comparing Land and Sea Routes

Information reviewed on 28 October 2026. Confirm the applicable product requirements with the responsible importer and authority before dispatch.

Illustrative photograph by Yeremia Ganda via Pexels, used under the Pexels License.