GCX BlogPhysical metals trading

GCX Exchange

Notes from the physical metals market

How the exchange matches orders, how a deal is priced and delivered, and what is moving in the market — written for people who trade metal, not for search engines.

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What we write about

Ten sections. Each one is where a question actually comes up in a deal or in working with metal, not where a keyword happens to sit.

Articles

  • How to choose a stainless steel pipe

    How to choose a stainless steel pipe: round ⌀16–108 mm or profile 20×20–60×40, wall 1.5–3 mm, finishes and grades 201, 304, 316L.

    • Grades and materials
    • 5 min read

  • How to choose a stainless steel supplier

    How to choose a stainless steel supplier: what to check about the company, certificates and the origin of the metal, warehouse and lead times, red flags and the acceptance procedure.

    • Buying and selling
    • 5 min read

  • How to choose stainless steel sheet: thickness, finish, grade

    How to choose stainless steel sheet: AISI 304 mirror and 2B, thicknesses 0.8–10 mm, formats 1250×2500 and 1500×3000, grades, tolerance and weight calculation.

    • Grades and materials
    • 12 min read

  • How a trade works on the GCX exchange: steps and deadlines

    Exchange fee per trade 0.50% from each side, 24 hours for confirmation and 5 days for documents. A step-by-step breakdown of a trade on GCX and the deposit of both parties.

    • Exchange and deals
    • 5 min read

  • How to sell stainless steel: sales channels

    How to sell stainless steel wholesale: sales channels, cold calling versus the platform, describing remnants, documents and shipment without extra loops.

    • Buying and selling
    • 6 min read

  • How to buy stainless steel wholesale

    How to buy stainless steel wholesale: grade, size, surface, volume and basis. How to calculate tonne and metre, what to check in a delivery and which mistakes are costly.

    • Buying and selling
    • 5 min read

  • What makes up the price of stainless steel

    What makes up the price of stainless steel: grade and alloying elements, nickel, size, surface, batch volume, logistics and basis. No figures or forecasts.

    • Market
    • 12 min read

  • Incoterms 2020: delivery bases in plain words

    Incoterms 2020 in plain words: all 11 terms in a table, who pays for carriage and insurance, where risk passes and what to write in an exchange order.

    • Logistics and delivery
    • 11 min read

  • Importing stainless steel from China: how not to buy defective metal

    Importing stainless steel from China: delivery schemes, what the price is made of, checking grade and quality, certificates and grade equivalents, logistics and lead times.

    • Customs and HS codes
    • 6 min read

  • Packaging and responsible storage of steel products

    How to store and pack stainless steel, what responsible storage and consignment are, and which films and paper protect rolled steel.

    • Buying and selling
    • 7 min read