Every serious commodity trade starts with paperwork, not price. Ask for the company registration, export licence and, where relevant, a phytosanitary certificate from the origin authority. A supplier who hesitates on basic documents rarely improves once money moves.
Request a pre-shipment sample and pay for independent inspection at load port. SGS, Bureau Veritas and Intertek all issue reports that banks and insurers accept, and the cost is trivial next to a rejected container.
Structure payment so risk is shared. Letters of credit, escrow, or a modest advance against a documentary balance all work. A 100% upfront wire to a new counterparty is the single most common way buyers lose money in this trade.
