Sourcing & Trade Guide
Respond to RFQ Africa: Win African Buyers on Comilmart (2026)
Comilmart Team
October 12, 2026
To respond to RFQ Africa buyers well, a Chinese factory needs three things: a clear picture of how requests for quotation work on Comilmart, a quotation that answers the buyer's questions the first time, and a reply routine that fits the time difference between China and Africa. This guide explains how RFQs and sample orders work on the platform, what to put in a quotation, how fast replies help you win African buyers, and the time-zone offsets for China and several African countries, taken from the IANA time zone database. Nothing here guarantees that a buyer will order; it is practical advice for presenting your factory well.
How RFQs and sample orders work on Comilmart
Buyers submit requests for quotation at /request-quotation, stating the product, the quantity and the delivery country. Approved suppliers browse open requests on their RFQ board and can respond with a quotation, or chat directly with the buyer. The platform also supports sample orders and has live chat. Because only approved suppliers use the RFQ board, you need to complete verification first; see how to register on Comilmart.
Quotation allowances depend on your supplier plan: up to 10 broadcast quotations on Standard, 50 on Starter and unlimited on Verified, according to the plan table. Prices and features can change, so check the plan page; our plans guide has the details. If your allowance is limited, answer the requests that fit your product, MOQ and shipping ability, and skip the rest.
How to respond to RFQ Africa buyers: a quotation checklist
A quotation that leaves out basics forces the buyer to ask again, and the reply that comes first often wins attention. Include:
- Exactly what you are quoting: model, specification, material, colour, packing and certifications you actually hold.
- Quantity and MOQ: match the quantity requested, and state your MOQ and any price tiers. See how to set MOQs and price tiers.
- Price basis: say whether the price is EXW, FOB, CIF or another term, and what it includes. On Comilmart the foreign seller arranges and pays for shipping to Africa, and Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery, so be explicit about what you are covering. See what to quote African buyers.
- Delivery country: the buyer states it in the request, so reflect it in your shipping estimate.
- Lead time: production time plus shipping, with honest ranges.
- Validity: how long the price holds, because material and freight costs move.
- Payment terms: keep them clear and consistent. For which payment methods and currencies work on Comilmart, ask through live chat or /contact-us and do not promise something you have not confirmed.
- Next step: offer a sample or a call, and invite questions.
Write in short, plain English sentences. A buyer reading on a phone in a busy market will not wade through a long block of text. Put the price and MOQ near the top. Avoid copy-pasting the same reply to every request; mention the product and country the buyer named.
Samples: how to make them work for you
Comilmart supports sample orders, which lets a buyer check quality before committing to a full order. Decide your sample policy before requests arrive:
- Price and who pays. Since the foreign seller arranges and pays for shipping to Africa, work out what a sample shipment costs and whether you charge for the sample, for freight or neither.
- Match the sample to production. Send a sample made on your normal line, not a hand-finished showpiece, so the buyer's expectations match what arrives on the full order.
- Pack and label clearly, and use a tracked shipping method so the buyer can follow it. Confirm the address and a reachable phone number.
- Follow up after delivery. Ask for feedback on specific points and offer to adjust.
Our guide on quotes, samples and proforma invoices covers the paperwork side.
Win African buyers with fast replies: time zones that matter
Speed matters because a buyer who sends a request often asks several suppliers. A prompt, complete answer can help you start the conversation. The time difference means a reply sent at the end of your Chinese day arrives at the start of the buyer's day, which is exactly when you want it to be read. The IANA time zone database lists the standard offsets below. China uses one zone, UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai, labelled CST).
| Place | Zone and offset | Hours behind China | When it is 15:00 in China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos, Nigeria | WAT, UTC+1 | 7 | 08:00 |
| Accra, Ghana | GMT, UTC+0 (Africa/Accra links to Africa/Abidjan) | 8 | 07:00 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa | SAST, UTC+2 | 6 | 09:00 |
| Nairobi, Kenya | EAT, UTC+3 | 5 | 10:00 |
| Cairo, Egypt | UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer time | 6, or 5 in summer time | 09:00, or 10:00 in summer time |
The hours-behind and local-time columns are our arithmetic from the offsets in the IANA files (zonenow.tab, dated 2023-12-18, and the backward links file). Governments can change their rules, so check a current world clock before you schedule calls.
Practical routines that follow from these numbers:
- Check the RFQ board at the start of your day and again in the Chinese afternoon, when it is morning in Africa.
- Send your main reply before the end of the Chinese working day. Between 15:00 and 18:00 in China it is roughly 07:00 to 13:00 across the five places in the table, so the buyer meets your quotation early in their day.
- Offer call times in the buyer's local time, for example "09:00 Nairobi time" next to the time in China, to avoid confusion.
- Do not expect instant replies at night. If it is midnight in Lagos, the buyer will reply when their day starts. Say when you will next check in.
Mistakes that cost you when you respond to RFQ Africa requests
- Quoting without checking the delivery country and its product rules. See our guide on product standards in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
- Leaving out the MOQ or lead time.
- Hiding shipping costs until after the buyer agrees.
- Promising delivery dates you cannot meet.
- Going silent after the first quote; send one short follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I respond to an RFQ on Comilmart? Approved suppliers browse open requests on their RFQ board and respond with a quotation, or chat directly with the buyer.
How quickly should I reply? As soon as you can give a complete, accurate answer, ideally within your working day. Speed helps only if the reply is correct.
How many quotations can I send? It depends on your plan: up to 10 on Standard, 50 on Starter, and unlimited on Verified, per the plan table. Check the plan page for current limits.
Can buyers order samples? Yes, Comilmart supports sample orders. Set your sample policy in advance.
What if the buyer is in a different time zone? Use the offsets above, send replies at the end of your day, and quote times in the buyer's local time.
Next step
To respond to RFQ Africa buyers, you first need an approved supplier account. Read the overview at /sell-to-africa and apply at /apply-manufacturer. Applying is free, and Comilmart does not guarantee buyers, orders or sales.