How to Request a Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric Quotation From a Manufacturer

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A Good Quotation Request Starts Before You Ask for the Price

If you send a manufacturer a message saying:

“Please send me your best price for spunbond fabric.”

you may receive a price quickly.

But you probably will not receive a quotation that is easy to compare with other suppliers.

The problem is that spunbond fabric quotation is not determined by the product name alone.

A manufacturer needs to know what exactly you want to buy.

For example, these two inquiries are very different:

I need PP spunbond fabric.

and:

I need 60 GSM virgin PP spunbond nonwoven fabric, white, 1,600 mm width, 20 tons, for shopping bag production. Please quote FOB and CIF Jakarta, including roll weight, packaging, MOQ, lead time, and payment terms.

The second inquiry gives the manufacturer enough information to calculate a meaningful commercial offer.

For international B2B purchasing, a good quotation request should answer five questions:

What are you buying?
How much do you need?
How should it be produced?
Where should it be delivered?
What commercial terms do you require?

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What Information Does a Manufacturer Need to Prepare a Quotation?

A professional quotation request normally contains several categories of information.

Information	Example
Product	PP spunbond nonwoven fabric
Application	Reusable shopping bags
Material	100% virgin PP
GSM	60 GSM
Width	1,600 mm
Structure	SS
Color	White
Treatment	None
Quantity	20 tons
Roll requirements	Standard export roll
Destination	Jakarta, Indonesia
Incoterm	FOB / CIF
Packaging	Export packaging
Payment	T/T
Delivery	Required shipment date
Documents	Invoice, packing list, COA, etc.

Not every quotation request needs every field.

However, the more customized the fabric, the more information the manufacturer needs before giving a reliable price.

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1. Start With the Application

One of the most useful pieces of information buyers can provide is the final application.

Do not simply tell the supplier:

PP spunbond fabric.

Instead, explain:

The fabric will be used to manufacture reusable shopping bags.

Or:

The fabric will be used for agricultural crop covers.

Or:

The fabric will be converted into hygiene products.

The application gives the manufacturer important context.

A supplier may recommend different combinations of:

• GSM

• strength

• softness

• stiffness

• hydrophilicity

• hydrophobicity

• UV stabilization

• color

• width

• roll configuration

for different applications.

Application is especially important when you are not sure about the specification

If you are a first-time buyer and do not know whether 50 GSM, 60 GSM, or 70 GSM is appropriate, tell the manufacturer what you are making.

A technically experienced manufacturer can then suggest a starting specification.

This is much more useful than asking for a generic “best price.”

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2. Define the Material

Your quotation request should identify the material requirement as clearly as possible.

For example:

Material: 100% virgin polypropylene

If recycled material is acceptable, state that.

If it is not acceptable, state it explicitly.

You may also need to clarify whether you require:

• Virgin PP

• Recycled PP

• Virgin/recycled blend

• Specific additives

• Application-specific material requirements

The material specification can significantly affect the quotation.

Two fabrics with the same GSM can have different prices because their raw-material requirements are different.

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3. Specify GSM

GSM is one of the first specifications a manufacturer will look for.

For example:

GSM: 60 g/m²

If you have a tolerance requirement, include it:

GSM: 60 g/m², according to agreed production tolerance.

If you are uncertain about the appropriate GSM, explain your application and ask the manufacturer for recommendations rather than leaving the specification completely open.

Why GSM matters to the quotation

For a given material and quality level, heavier fabric generally contains more material per square meter.

It also affects:

• total weight

• area covered per ton

• finished-product cost

• container loading

• shipping economics

For buyers comparing quotations, it is important to make sure every supplier is quoting the same GSM.

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4. Specify the Width

Width should be included in the quotation request whenever possible.

For example:

Width: 1,600 mm

If your converting machine has a specific requirement, provide it.

If you need several widths, list them separately.

For example:

Width	Quantity
1,600 mm	10 tons
1,800 mm	5 tons
2,000 mm	5 tons

Do not simply write:

Width: approximately 1.6–2.0 m

unless you genuinely accept any width within that range.

Different widths can affect production efficiency, trimming waste, roll configuration, and therefore the quotation.

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5. Tell the Manufacturer the Color

For white or standard natural-color fabric, the requirement is relatively simple.

For customized colors, provide as much information as possible.

You can use:

• Pantone reference

• physical sample

• color code

• approved production sample

For example:

Color: Red, Pantone reference to be confirmed.

If you require several colors, provide a quantity breakdown.

Color	Quantity
Black	5 tons
Red	3 tons
Blue	4 tons
Green	3 tons

This is much easier for a manufacturer to evaluate than:

15 tons, mixed colors.

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6. State the Quantity Clearly

Quantity has a major influence on a commercial quotation.

The manufacturer needs to know whether you are asking for:

• 500 kg

• 2 tons

• 10 tons

• 20 tons

• one container

• regular monthly supply

A useful quotation request could say:

Quantity: 20 metric tons for the first order.

If you expect recurring orders, say so:

Estimated demand: 20 tons/month after successful trial order.

This gives the manufacturer more commercial context.

However, do not promise large future volumes simply to obtain a lower price if those volumes are uncertain.

A better approach is to distinguish:

Current order quantity

from

Estimated future demand.

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7. Tell the Manufacturer Your Destination

A quotation without a destination can be incomplete for international purchasing.

For example:

Destination port: Jakarta, Indonesia

or:

Delivery location: Dubai, UAE

The destination is particularly important when requesting a CIF, CFR, DAP, or DDP quotation.

If you only need an FOB quotation, the destination port is still useful because it helps clarify the logistics context.

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FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP: Ask for the Right Price

One of the most common causes of confusion in international quotations is comparing prices under different Incoterms.

For example:

Supplier A:

FOB Shanghai: $1,500/MT

Supplier B:

CIF Jakarta: $1,560/MT

These are not directly comparable.

Supplier B's price includes additional transportation costs to the destination port.

Therefore, when requesting a quotation, clearly state which commercial term you want.

For example:

Please quote FOB Shanghai and CIF Jakarta.

This can actually be useful when comparing suppliers because you can see both the factory-side price and the transportation component.

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8. Ask for Price in a Clear Unit

Spunbond fabric can be quoted using different units, including:

• USD/kg

• USD/MT

• USD/m²

• USD/roll

For bulk industrial purchases, USD/kg or USD/MT is common.

However, the buyer should always confirm the unit.

A quotation saying:

Price: $1.50

is incomplete.

A better quotation says:

Price: USD 1.50/kg, FOB Shanghai.

Even better:

Price: USD 1.50/kg, FOB Shanghai, based on 20 MT, 60 GSM, 1,600 mm width, white virgin PP spunbond fabric.

Now the price has context.

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9. Ask About Roll Configuration

If the fabric is going directly into a converting machine, roll configuration can be important.

Include requirements such as:

• roll width

• roll length

• roll weight

• core diameter

• maximum roll diameter

• winding direction

For example:

Roll length: approximately 2,000 m per roll
Core: 3 inches

If you do not have a fixed requirement, simply ask:

Please provide your standard roll configuration and average roll weight.

This is especially useful for first-time buyers.

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10. Request the MOQ

MOQ means Minimum Order Quantity.

Do not assume that the manufacturer's advertised MOQ applies to every specification.

MOQ may change according to:

• GSM

• width

• color

• treatment

• material

• customized production

• packaging

• order frequency

For example, a supplier may accept a small quantity of standard white fabric but require a larger quantity for a customized color.

Therefore, ask:

Please confirm MOQ for each specification and color.

This can prevent surprises later.

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11. Ask for Lead Time

A quotation should not only tell you how much the fabric costs.

It should also tell you when it can ship.

Ask:

What is the production lead time after receiving the deposit and confirming the specifications?

A supplier may quote an attractive price but have a longer production schedule.

For time-sensitive projects, this can be commercially important.

You can also ask the supplier to distinguish between:

• sample lead time

• first-order production lead time

• repeat-order lead time

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12. Ask Whether the Price Includes Special Treatments

If your fabric requires a special treatment, make sure it is included in the quotation.

For example:

50 GSM virgin PP spunbond, hydrophilic treatment.

Do not compare this directly with:

50 GSM virgin PP spunbond, untreated.

Potential requirements include:

• Hydrophilic

• Hydrophobic

• UV stabilization

• Antistatic

• Flame retardant

• Antibacterial

• Other application-specific treatments

If the treatment requirement is unclear, ask the supplier to quote:

Standard fabric

and

Treated fabric

separately.

This makes the additional cost visible.

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13. Ask for Technical Data When Performance Matters

Price should not be the only information in a quotation.

For technical applications, request a technical data sheet or agreed specification covering relevant properties such as:

• GSM

• width

• tensile strength

• elongation

• tear strength

• air permeability

• hydrostatic performance

• treatment performance

• other application-specific properties

The exact tests should depend on the intended application.

For example, a fabric used for a shopping bag does not necessarily need the same technical documentation as a fabric used in a hygiene product.

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14. Ask About Samples Before Placing a Large Order

If you have never purchased from the manufacturer before, a sample can reduce the risk of a specification mismatch.

A sample can help you evaluate:

• GSM

• color

• hand feel

• surface appearance

• stiffness

• strength

• converting performance

• printing performance

For customized fabric, it is particularly useful to establish an approved reference sample before mass production.

A practical process is:

Quotation → Sample → Testing → Approval → Mass Production

rather than:

Quotation → Large Order → Discover Problem

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15. Ask What Is Included in the Price

A professional quotation should make the commercial scope clear.

Ask whether the price includes:

• Fabric

• Standard packaging

• Pallet

• Labels

• Special treatment

• Loading

• Export documentation

• Inland transportation

• Ocean freight

• Insurance

The answer depends on the Incoterm.

This is why a quotation should never be evaluated from the number alone.

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A Realistic Spunbond Fabric Quotation Request Template

If you are contacting a manufacturer for the first time, you can send something like this:

Subject: RFQ for PP Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric

Dear Sales Team,

We are looking for PP spunbond nonwoven fabric for reusable shopping bag production.

Please provide your quotation based on the following requirements:

• Material: 100% virgin PP

• Structure: SS

• GSM: 60 GSM

• Width: 1,600 mm

• Color: White

• Treatment: None

• Quantity: 20 MT

• Roll configuration: Please advise your standard configuration

• Packaging: Standard export packaging

• Destination port: Jakarta, Indonesia

Please quote:

1. FOB price per kg/MT

2. CIF Jakarta price per kg/MT

3. MOQ

4. Production lead time

5. Payment terms

6. Sample availability

7. Technical data sheet

8. Standard roll weight and length

Please also advise whether the above specification is suitable for reusable shopping bags and recommend any changes if necessary.

We look forward to receiving your quotation.

This format is short enough for email or Alibaba messaging while providing the manufacturer with the information needed to prepare a useful offer.

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If You Don't Know the Exact Specification

First-time buyers often face a different problem:

They know what they want to make, but they do not know exactly what fabric they need.

In that situation, do not invent technical specifications simply because another website lists them.

Instead, tell the manufacturer:

Application: reusable shopping bags
Bag size: 40 × 50 cm
Target load: approximately 8 kg
Printing: four-color printing
Production method: automatic bag-making machine
Quantity: 20 MT

Then ask:

Please recommend the appropriate GSM, width, strength, and roll configuration.

This gives the manufacturer a real engineering problem to solve.

The final quotation can then be based on a recommended specification rather than an arbitrary GSM.

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How to Compare Spunbond Fabric Quotations

Suppose you receive three offers.

Item	Supplier A	Supplier B	Supplier C
GSM	60	60	60
Material	Virgin PP	Virgin PP	Virgin PP
Width	1.6 m	1.6 m	1.6 m
Color	White	White	White
Treatment	None	None	None
Price	$X/kg	$Y/kg	$Z/kg
MOQ	10 MT	5 MT	20 MT
Lead time	15 days	25 days	18 days
Incoterm	FOB	FOB	CIF

The next step is not automatically choosing the lowest number.

First normalize the quotation.

Check:

Product

Are all three suppliers offering exactly the same material and specifications?

Commercial term

Are they all quoting FOB, or are some quoting CIF?

Quantity

Are they using the same order quantity?

Packaging

Does the price include the same packaging configuration?

Quality

Are the technical requirements equivalent?

Lead time

Can all suppliers meet your required schedule?

Only after these differences are clarified can the quotations be meaningfully compared.

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Why Manufacturers Sometimes Ask Many Questions Before Giving a Price

Some buyers become frustrated when a supplier responds:

“What GSM?”
“What width?”
“What color?”
“What quantity?”
“What application?”
“What destination?”

This can feel slow compared with a supplier that immediately gives a number.

But for customized spunbond fabric, those questions are often necessary.

A manufacturer cannot accurately price a product that has not been sufficiently defined.

In fact, a very fast quotation can sometimes mean the supplier is giving you:

• a reference price

• a standard-product price

• a price based on assumptions

• or a price that may change after the specifications are confirmed

Therefore, buyers should distinguish between a quick indicative price and a formal quotation based on confirmed specifications.

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Indicative Price vs Formal Quotation

These two types of prices should not be treated as identical.

Indicative price

Example:

Approximately USD X–Y/kg depending on GSM and quantity.

Useful for:

• initial budgeting

• market research

• deciding whether the project is commercially viable

Formal quotation

Example:

USD X/kg FOB Shanghai based on 60 GSM, 1,600 mm width, white virgin PP, 20 MT order quantity.

Useful for:

• supplier comparison

• purchase approval

• negotiation

• purchase order preparation

If you are still in the early research stage, an indicative price may be enough.

Once you are ready to purchase, request a quotation based on a confirmed specification.

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Ask for the Validity Period

Raw-material prices can change.

Polypropylene resin is a major input for PP spunbond production, so manufacturers may not keep a quotation open indefinitely.

Ask:

Please confirm the quotation validity period.

For example:

Price validity: 7 days.

The exact period depends on the supplier and market conditions.

This helps prevent a situation where the buyer compares a quotation received several weeks ago with a new quotation under different raw-material conditions.

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Payment Terms Should Be Part of the Quotation

Common international payment arrangements may include:

• T/T

• Letter of Credit

• Other mutually agreed arrangements

For example:

Payment: 30% deposit, 70% balance before shipment.

However, the payment structure should be confirmed with the supplier before placing the order.

For a new supplier, buyers should also make sure that the beneficiary company information, contract, quotation, and banking details are consistent before making payment.

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Don't Ask for "Your Best Price" Too Early

“Please give me your best price” is common in B2B purchasing.

But it is usually more effective after the specification has been established.

Instead of:

Please give me your best price.

try:

Please provide your most competitive FOB price based on the above specification and 20 MT quantity.

This tells the manufacturer exactly what the price needs to be based on.

After receiving the first quotation, you can then negotiate specific commercial factors such as:

• quantity

• repeat orders

• payment terms

• packaging

• shipment schedule

• standard versus customized specifications

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The Five Numbers Buyers Should Always Check

When reviewing a spunbond fabric quotation, do not look only at the unit price.

Check these five numbers:

Number	Why It Matters
Unit price	Direct material cost
GSM	Determines fabric weight per area
Quantity	Determines production economics
Roll weight/length	Affects production and logistics
Freight/Incoterm cost	Determines delivered cost

A quotation of $1.50/kg and another of $1.55/kg may look very different at first.

But if one includes a different Incoterm, packaging, or logistics component, the real landed-cost difference may be much smaller—or larger.

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A More Complete RFQ Template for Regular Buyers

For companies purchasing spunbond fabric regularly, the following structure can become a standard RFQ form.

Product Information

• Product:

• Application:

• Material:

• Structure:

• GSM:

• Width:

• Color:

• Treatment:

Performance Requirements

• Tensile strength MD:

• Tensile strength CD:

• Elongation:

• Tear strength:

• Other requirements:

Quantity

• Trial order:

• Regular order:

• Monthly demand:

• Color breakdown:

Roll Configuration

• Roll length:

• Roll weight:

• Core diameter:

• Maximum roll diameter:

Packaging

• Standard / customized:

• Pallet:

• Label requirements:

Commercial Terms

• Destination:

• Preferred Incoterm:

• Currency:

• Payment terms:

• Quotation validity:

Supplier Information Required

• Unit price

• MOQ

• Lead time

• Sample availability

• Technical data sheet

• Production capacity

• Export experience

• Relevant certifications, if required

This format can save considerable time when you are requesting quotations from several manufacturers.

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The Best Quotation Request Is Specific—but Not Unnecessarily Complicated

A common mistake is going too far in the opposite direction.

You do not need to send a manufacturer a 30-page technical specification for a simple standard fabric order.

The goal is to provide enough information to remove the variables that materially affect:

price + performance + production + delivery.

For a standard order, a one-page RFQ may be sufficient.

For a customized or highly technical application, a detailed technical specification and sample approval process may be appropriate.

The right level of detail depends on the product.

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Final Spunbond Fabric Quotation Checklist

Before sending your RFQ, confirm:

• Final application is stated

• Material is specified

• GSM is specified

• Width is specified

• Structure is specified

• Color is specified

• Treatment is specified

• Quantity is clear

• Color/size quantity breakdown is provided if necessary

• Roll requirements are stated or requested

• Packaging requirements are clear

• Destination is provided

• Incoterm is specified

• Price unit is specified

• MOQ is requested

• Lead time is requested

• Payment terms are requested

• Sample is requested when necessary

• Technical data is requested when performance matters

• Quotation validity is confirmed

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FAQ

What should I include when requesting a spunbond fabric quotation?

At minimum, provide the application, material, GSM, width, color, quantity, destination, and preferred Incoterm. For customized fabric, also specify structure, treatment, performance requirements, and roll configuration.

Should I ask for FOB or CIF pricing?

It depends on how you purchase. FOB can make factory-side prices easier to compare, while CIF provides a price including transportation to the destination port. Asking for both can be useful during supplier comparison.

Can a manufacturer quote spunbond fabric without knowing the GSM?

A manufacturer can provide an indicative market price, but a reliable quotation normally requires a defined GSM because fabric weight directly affects material consumption and cost.

What if I don't know which GSM I need?

Tell the manufacturer your final application, finished-product dimensions, required performance, and production method. Ask the manufacturer to recommend a suitable GSM and specification.

Should I request a sample before ordering?

For a new supplier or customized product, a sample is generally useful for checking appearance, hand feel, GSM, color, strength, and converting performance before mass production.

Why are spunbond fabric quotations sometimes valid for only a short period?

The quotation may depend on raw-material costs, production conditions, freight rates, exchange rates, and other commercial factors. The supplier should state the quotation validity period clearly.

Should I compare prices per kilogram or per square meter?

For bulk purchasing, price per kilogram is common, but price per square meter can be useful when comparing material consumption for a finished product. If suppliers quote different GSMs, converting the prices to a common basis can make the comparison more meaningful.

What is the difference between a quotation and an RFQ?

An RFQ (Request for Quotation) is the buyer's request for pricing and commercial information. A quotation is the supplier's commercial offer based on the requested specifications.

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Conclusion

A successful spunbond fabric quotation request is not simply a message asking:

“How much per kilogram?”

It is a structured description of the product and the transaction.

A manufacturer needs to understand:

what fabric you need → how much you need → how it will be used → where it will be delivered → how you want it quoted.

The more clearly these variables are defined, the more useful the quotation becomes.

For serious B2B purchasing, the goal is not to collect the largest number of prices.

The goal is to obtain comparable quotations based on the same specification, so that price, quality, production capability, lead time, and total purchasing cost can be evaluated on the same basis.