My client took 4 months to pay, and the contract had a hidden “claim clause” — how I got through this Singapore fastener order？
Key Takeaways
A real case study of Singapore offshore fastener procurement, from inquiry to delivery spanning 6 months
The client is an experienced procurement engineer who raised professional requirements including API 20E certification and EN 10204 3.1 certificates from the start
Complete documentation of technical assessment, contract negotiation, payment coordination, and after-sales service
Suitable for fastener suppliers, export sales professionals, and offshore project procurement personnel
Core Keywords
Singapore, fasteners, hex head bolt set, offshore project maintenance, EN 10204 3.1 certificate, API 20E certification, HDG
1. Client Background & Inquiry
Client Information: Singapore-based enterprise, China procurement manager
Product: Fasteners — Hex Head Bolt Set
Application: Offshore project maintenance consumables
Inquiry Date: November 10, 2025
The Singapore office sent an inquiry.
└Singapore client requested HDG hex bolt sets for offshore repair with EN 10204 3.1.
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Documents: CI&PL, B/L and Mill Test Certificates EN.10204.3.1.
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NO
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Description
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Unit Price (RMB)
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1
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HDG Hex Bolt, ASTM A193/193M-B7, ASME B18.2.3.6M ,M20*85 ,Thread Length=65
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20.53
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2
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HDG Hex Nut , M20, ASTM A194/194M-2H,ASME B18.2.4.6M
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9.9
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3
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HDG Hex Nut M20 ASTM A194/194M-2H ASME B18.2.4.1M
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7.49
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4
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HDG Plain Washer M20 200HV ASME B18.22M
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3.78
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7
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HDG Hexagon Socket Head screw, M10*60, ASTM A193/A193M-B7, ASME B18.3.1M , Thread Length=45
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4.51
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8
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HDG Hex Nut ,Grade 8,ISO 4032,M10
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1.21
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9
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HDG Plain Washer M10,200HV, ASME B18.22M
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0.56
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10
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HDG Spring Washer M10, ASTM F436 B18.21.2M
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0.56
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After we quoted, the client-clearly an experienced procurement professional or engineer-asked three questions:
1. Can you provide Mill Test Certificates EN 10204 3.1?
2. Does your company have API 20E certification for ASME A193 B7 hex head bolts?
3. Have you supplied these materials for fastener before? Can you share some offshore project case references?
Industry Context: EN 10204 3.1 is an EU-standard material certificate requiring an independent third-party inspection report for each batch, traceable to the heat number.
API 20E is an American Petroleum Institute certification for bolts, nuts, and other fasteners- a hard threshold for entering oil & gas and offshore projects.
Overseas buyers eliminate the highest percentage of suppliers during the technical assessment stage, and many are screened out at this step.
2. Technical Assessment: Winning Trust with Professional Responses
Facing such professional questions, our job was to answer each one carefully-that's the only way to give the client confidence in us.
I attached our API certificate and some of our company's past fastener project references.
└We sent the ASME A193 B7 hex bolt API 20E certificate to the Singapore client.
For a month, the client went silent, always telling me there was no feedback.
I figured this was the period when the client was doing background checks and comparing suppliers on price, quality, and service.
One-Minute Overview
- but F436 is the standard for flat washers.
- Our stock only had M6*20 A2-70 — M6*12 is really too small.
- EN 10204 3.1 is an EU-standard material certificate requiring an independent third-party inspection report for each batch, traceable to the heat number.
- API 20E is an American Petroleum Institute certification for bolts, nuts, and other fasteners- a hard threshold for entering oil & gas and offshore projects.
3. Turning Point: Call from China Office
On December 18, 2025, I received a call from the client's China office. I think we stood out among the suppliers.
The client asked me to provide a sample Mill Test Certificate EN 10204 3.1 for ASME A193 B7 HEX BOLT.
After that, I switched to WeChat communication with the procurement contact at the client's China office.
└Sent the EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate sample for fasteners to the client.
On December 24, the client asked me to change the previous quote from USD to RMB including tax.
└Changed the fastener quote from USD to RMB as requested by the China office.
After that, the client went silent for a long time. During this period, I followed up frequently, asking if there were any updates.
The client's answer was always "about to order, about to order.
" At this point, I understood that the procurement rhythm of large engineering projects is never a fast-paced presto — it's a slow adagio requiring patience.
The procurement gears turn slowly with the project's main shaft, so I calmed down and waited patiently.
4. Contract Negotiation: Disagreements & Coordination
On January 27, 2026, the client sent a new inquiry — additional fastener requirements for the same maintenance project, including the previous inquiry.
The client told me to quote them together and place the order together.
└Singapore offshore maintenance project added new fastener needs and asked for a joint quote.
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16
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Hex Head Bolt, A4-80, M6*12,ISO 898, ISO 4014
DIN933 Fully Threaded
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1.22
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17
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Stud Bolt, A4-80, M6*12,ISO 898, ISO 4014
DIN933 Fully Threaded
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0.6
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|
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18
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Flat Washer, A4, 6,ISO 7089, ISO 7483
DIN125A
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0.86
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19
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Hex Nut, A4-80, M6,ISO 898, ISO 4032
DIN934
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0.97
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|
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20
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Hex head Bolt, A4-80, M6*20,ISO 898, ISO 4014
DIN933 Fully Threaded
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1.47
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|
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21
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Flat Washer, A4,6,ISO 7089, ISO 7483
DIN125A
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0.86
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|
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22
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Hex Nut, A4-80, M6,ISO 898, ISO 4032
DIN934
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0.97
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|
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23
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Hex head Bolt, A4-80,M10*30,ISO 898, ISO 4014
DIN933 Fully Threaded
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2.58
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|
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24
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Flat Washer, A4,10,ISO 7089, ISO 7483
DIN125A
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0.47
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|
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25
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Large Flat Washer, A4,10,ISO 7093
DIN9021
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0.3
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|
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26
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Hex Nut, A4-80,M10,ISO 898, ISO 4032
DIN934
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1.06
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Total
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EX-Work
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Next, there were quite a few disagreements and adjustments during the contract process:
1) Confusion Between Quotation and Contract
I first made a quotation for the client, but the client mistook it for the contract and asked me to change it to a Chinese quotation.
2) Negotiation on Contract Detail Level
Since the contract is both parties’ proof and production standard, I listed details including product standards, materials, coatings, etc.
But the client said their company requires quoting based on how invoices are issued,
thinking my contract was too complex-they only needed product name&specification.
My adjustment was to tell the client that production is mainly based on the contract, and material, coating and standards must be marked.
We could put this important information in the remarks column for both parties to confirm.
└We agreed with the Singapore client on contract and invoice details, then signed
3) Coordination on Invoice-Before-Payment
The client required invoicing before payment, which our company normally doesn't do.
But the client repeatedly asked me to coordinate, as their company has a mandatory requirement.
I first communicated with my supervisor to see if it was feasible.
The client told me that after invoicing and their payment, we would then arrange production.
Based on trust in the client and to build a good first cooperation, we finally agreed.
└Singapore client required invoice before payment; we finally reached an agreement.
4) Discount and Rounding
The client asked for a discount and rounding down.
The adjustment amount was small-just consider it making a friend.
5) Major Contract Revision
The client made major revisions to my contract, adding many of their company's standard clauses.
As I'm still new to foreign trade at that time, some clauses looked scary.
Although we have absolute confidence in our products, seeing clauses about claims
and lawsuits made me think the profit from this order wouldn't be enough to cover even a tiny bit of trouble...
It felt like signing this contract meant taking on huge responsibility.
I told my supervisor about this concern.
His answer was to proceed with the client.
He told me these are normal standard clauses, don't worry, but change the contract signing location to Xiamen.
The client agreed. Finally, we stamped the contract with our red seal.
└Signed the Singapore fastener contract, with the signing place changed to Xiamen.
5. Production & Delivery: Details Decide Success
March 2, 2026: Specification Error Discovered
After the Chinese New Year, since I hadn't reviewed my work for a while, I went through the contract and inquiry again.
I found that item 10 the client wrote was stud bolt M6*12 A4-80, but the standard was written as hex head standard.
I had previously quoted uniformly according to the standard.
So I went back to confirm with the client, who replied it was a fully threaded stud and they had written the wrong standard number at the time.
Our stock only had M6*20 A2-70 — M6*12 is really too small.
The client suggested buying from Taobao and asked me to screen for them.
I thought this was what we should do, but I also told the client in advance that we cannot guarantee Taobao's quality
— I could only try to find products with quality certificates and performance grade markings.
└Before production we checked the order and corrected the client's stud standard error.
March 19, 2026: Payment Received, Checklist Verified
The client paid. I checked the product list with production and found that the spring washer was written with material ASTM F436,
but F436 is the standard for flat washers.
It might have been a clerical error by the client.
After the client confirmed they wanted spring washers, we directly changed the material to carbon steel.
└Pre-production check found spring washer material was wrongly marked F436; changed to carbon steel.
April 20, 2026: Proactive Shipping Update
Approaching the delivery date, I proactively informed the client about the goods status and estimated shipping time to give them peace of mind.
└We proactively updated the client on fastener production; hot-dip galvanizing was next.
May 15, 2026: Delivery & After-Sales
The client contacted me saying the products were missing spring washers.
I had carefully checked every item twice before shipping — there shouldn't have been any omission.
From the client's tone, they themselves were a bit confused and had forgotten about this inquiry.
So I called directly, told them not to worry, to check again, and if they really couldn't find it, we would replenish it.
In our joint verification, it turned out two identical flat washers were packed in one bag, so they thought the other half was missing.
The client even praised our careful packaging.
On the same day, I organized all Mill Test Certificates EN 10204 3.1 for the twenty products,
categorized them, packaged them, and sent them to the client. The client praised me.
└After delivery, the client couldn't find a spring washer; we helped locate it.
└We prepared and packed the fasteners on time, waiting for the Singapore client's instruction.
└Per the Singapore client's request, we sent fasteners via Deppon Logistics to the destination.
DPK202731993654
Received Positive Customer Rebiews
└After shipping, we sent EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates and received client praise.
Details determine quality, and our customers are full of praise for our meticulous packaging!
Each bag of products comes with a dedicated label, clearly indicating the product name (e.g., DIN 933),
specifications (e.g., M10*30), material (e.g., A4-80), and quantity.
This makes it convenient for customers to use directly for warehousing, saving them the trouble of secondary sorting.
└We packed each type of fastener separately for easy access and use.
FAQ
Can you share some offshore project case references?
EN 10204 3.1 is an EU-standard material certificate requiring an independent third-party inspection report for each batch, traceable to the heat number.
What is the minimum order quantity for fasteners?
Standard items can be supplied from one piece. Special grades, non-standard lengths and custom coatings are quoted per drawing, so the minimum is set by the specification you send.
What lead time should be expected?
Normal production is completed within 30 days as a rule. The actual schedule depends on quantity, material grade and surface treatment, and stock items can go out immediately.
How are payments handled?
We accept common international terms including T/T and L/C. The final arrangement is agreed together with the quotation for each order.
6. Case Summary: Four Key Success Factors for Offshore Fastener Orders 1. Product Quality Passed
The client's engineer reviewed our Mill Test Certificates EN 10204 3.1 samples.
Offshore projects have extremely high material traceability requirements — EN 10204 3.1 certificates are the basic threshold.
2. Patience
This project's cycle ran from November last year and didn't finalize until February 2026.
Large project cycles are long.
During this period, I kept in constant communication with the client, showing how much we valued this cooperation.
3. Good Service Attitude
This client had many questions and areas needing coordination.
We did our best to satisfy the client's requirements and give them a better procurement experience.
4. Professional Response Capability
From API 20E certification to EN 10204 3.1 certificates, from ASME A193 B7 standards to ASTM F436 materials,
every professional question needed an accurate answer to pass the client's technical assessment.
FAQ Q1: What are your lead time, trade terms, and payment methods for bulk orders?
A: Standard lead time is about 15–30 days depending on stock and finishing.
We support FOB, CIF, etc. Payment is negotiable; T/T or L/C are common.
Q2: Are surface treatments like hot-dip galvanizing/Dacromet available? Can packaging and marks be customized?
A: Yes, hot-dip galvanizing, Dacromet, black oxide, etc. Packaging, labels, and shipping marks can be customized.
Q3: What applications are ASME A193 B7 bolts suitable for?
A: A193 B7 is an alloy steel bolt standard for high-temperature and high-pressure environments, widely used in petrochemical,
offshore platform, valve flange connections, and similar applications.
Q4: How long is a typical offshore project procurement cycle?
A: From inquiry to delivery, typically 3-6 months; larger projects may take longer.
Technical assessment and supplier background checks take the most time upfront.
Q5: Do you support OEM/custom specifications and materials? What is your MOQ?
A: Yes, we support OEM, custom specs, materials, and finishes.
MOQ depends on product type and is negotiable; bulk orders get better pricing.
Q6: How can I verify the authenticity of this case?
A: You can check the tracking number on Deppon's official website. The tracking number for this order is DPK202731993654.
About Us
We are a fastener manufacturer and exporter specializing in hex head bolts, studs, washers, and more,
widely used in petrochemical, offshore platforms, energy equipment, and other industries.
Our company holds API 20E certification, can provide EN 10204 3.1 material certificates,
and our products comply with ASME, ASTM, DIN, and other international standards.
For inquiries about ASME A193 B7 hex head bolts or offshore fastener solutions, please contact us.
WhatsApp: +86 15985833169
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