A real RFQ names a grade, a quantity and a destination; a vague one is usually a broker collecting quotes to shop around — here is how to tell the difference and respond properly.
An RFQ — request for quote — is the formal starting point of most bulk commodity transactions, and this trade is no exception, but the sheer volume of RFQs a rice exporter receives, many of them low-quality or fake, makes it worth understanding what a genuine one actually contains and how to spot the ones that are not worth a detailed quote at all. This page covers both sides: what a real buyer should include, and what a supplier should check before investing time in a response.
A genuine RFQ names a specific grade — raw, steam, white/creamy sella or golden sella — rather than just “basmati rice”, states a real quantity (container count or tonnage) and a destination port, and typically requests a formal quotation against a stated Incoterm, usually CIF or FOB. It often also asks for supporting documentation upfront — APEDA registration, FSSAI licence, sometimes a sample — which is itself a sign of a buyer running a real qualification process rather than casting a wide, low-effort net.
A vague RFQ asking for “best price for basmati rice” with no grade, no quantity and no destination is usually a broker or intermediary collecting quotes to shop around rather than a buyer with an actual purchase order behind it — not necessarily dishonest, but a lower-value use of a supplier’s time than a specific, well-formed request. An RFQ from an unverifiable company with no registration detail, pushing urgently for a price without any of the usual documentation exchange, or requesting unusual upfront payment structures before any sample or relationship exists, deserves real caution rather than a fast quote.
Responding with a complete, specific quote — grade, spec sheet reference, Incoterm, validity period, and the exporter’s own credentials (APEDA, FSSAI, and other certification where relevant) attached upfront — signals the same seriousness a good buyer is looking for, and tends to move a genuine RFQ toward a sample and a first order faster than an incomplete reply asking the buyer to clarify basics that should have been included from the exporter’s side. For a vague RFQ worth pursuing anyway, asking directly for the missing grade, quantity and destination before quoting is a better use of time than guessing.
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A real RFQ names a specific grade, states a real quantity and destination port, and usually requests documentation upfront; a vague "best price for basmati" request with none of that is usually lower-value.
Not necessarily — asking directly for the missing grade, quantity and destination before quoting is a better use of time than guessing, and some vague RFQs do come from genuine buyers who simply didn't specify enough detail.
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