Customer Background
The client is a major local construction contractor in Egypt, undertaking new urban residential infrastructure projects (including rural housing development). The project includes outdoor water supply and drainage networks as well as outdoor steel structure supports.
Environment: Egypt has a hot, arid climate with intense UV radiation and large day-night temperature differences. Steel materials are exposed outdoors long-term in sandy, windy conditions, posing a high corrosion risk.
The Challenge
The client aims for a one-stop centralized procurement model. Aside from the current hot-dip galvanized ERW pipes, they also plan to purchase upstream raw materials (PPGI coils) for the same project. They require:
- Durable anti-corrosion, stable dimensions, and controllable delivery times for pipes.
- A complete set of inspection documents for customs clearance and on-site acceptance.
- The ability to supply both pipes and coils from a single source to reduce management costs.
Specified Standard: ASTM A53 Gr.A hot-dip galvanized ERW round pipes.
Our Custom Solution
1. Pipe Specifications (220 Metric Tons):
- Product: ASTM A53 Gr.A ERW round pipe, Hot-dip galvanized to ASTM A123.
- Dimensions: OD 76.1mm, Wall Thickness 2.2mm, Fixed Length 6000mm.
- Quality Control: Batch-by-batch inspection of OD, wall thickness, and zinc coating thickness. Issued EN 10204 3.1 MTC, supporting SGS inspection.
- Production: 21 working days after deposit. We coordinated raw material stocking to hedge against price hikes.
2. Synchronized Coil Supply for the Same Project:
- Materials: Smooth Matte PPGI coils (RAL 9002/7035).
- Coil Specifications: 1200mm width (for YX35-200-1000 trapezoidal roofing), 0.5mm thickness (customizable 0.35 – 0.7mm).
- Coating & Weight: Top 20μm / Back 10μm (Polyester). 3 – 5 Tons per coil (standard export packing).
3. Client’s Roofing Raw Material Procurement Strategy
The customer purchases steel coils rather than corrugated sheets because there is a large-scale roll-forming industry in the region. By processing the coils into trapezoidal roofing panels themselves, the customer avoids low packing density and saves on costs.
Local Market and Climate: Egypt imposes safeguard duties on PPGI, GI, and HR/CR coils. In desert climates, light-colored sheets with a matte finish (such as RAL 9002 off-white and RAL 7035 light gray) are typically preferred for residential roofing to reflect sunlight and reduce indoor temperatures.
One-Stop Value: By combining the 220 tons of steel pipes and the required raw PPGI coils into a single order, we minimized the client’s multi-supplier management costs and ensured consistent shipping schedules.
Packing & Logistics
Pipes were securely bundled on steel cradles to protect the zinc coating from scratches during lifting and ocean transport.
Loading Capacity & Shipping: Total 9 x 40HQ containers (8 full containers + 1 partial container). A standard 40HQ can load 24-26 tons of pipes, leaving a safe margin for ocean freight. Destination: Port Said, Egypt. Estimated sea transit time: 25-30 days from Tianjin/Qingdao port.
In addition, the RAL 7035 matte light gray PPGI roofing color-coated steel coils procured by the customer for this residential development project were shipped in separate containers in batches.
