Many international buyers believe that long-term cooperation with the same supplier will naturally lead to lower procurement costs over time. In reality, we often see the opposite: sourcing costs remain flat or gradually increase, even when the market becomes more competitive. So why does this happen?
A Real Sourcing Case: Carbon Fiber Products in China
Recently, we supported an overseas client in sourcing carbon fiber products from China, specifically carbon fiber tubes with a 3K finish. As part of our standard sourcing process, we conducted supplier verification and RFQ benchmarking.
The client had worked with the same supplier for several years and assumed their pricing was still competitive. However, they had not conducted a formal RFQ comparison lately.
RFQ Comparison Results: A Surprising Price Gap
We shortlisted six qualified carbon fiber manufacturers in China, all capable of meeting the same technical and quality requirements. The quotation results were a price gap of $70 (approximately a 28% difference).
What shocked the client was that even the highest quotation from these 6 suppliers was still cheaper than their current vendor’s price. In fact, the long-term supplier’s quotation was nearly double the market range.
👉 Without comparison, this gap would have never been discovered.
What Changed Since 2021?
In 2021, the same supplier had quoted together with four other manufacturers, and prices across suppliers were almost identical. At that time, there was no significant price gap.
However, over the past few years:
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New carbon fiber manufacturers have entered the market
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Production efficiency has improved
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Supply chains and material sourcing have been optimized
Meanwhile, without ongoing RFQ benchmarking, the client’s supplier pricing gradually drifted away from the market.
The Hidden Risk of Long-Term Supplier Dependence
Relying on a single long-term supplier can create pricing blind spots, including:
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Lack of market price visibility
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Reduced competitive pressure on suppliers
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Missed opportunities to work with more efficient manufacturers
China’s manufacturing industry evolves rapidly, especially in sectors like carbon fiber and composite materials. Suppliers that were competitive years ago may no longer be the best option today.
Why Continuous RFQ Benchmarking Matters
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Gain more in-depth insights into real-time market pricing trends and fluctuations
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Uncover significant and valuable cost-saving opportunities across suppliers
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Mitigate potential long-term sourcing risks with better foresight
If you don’t compare, you can’t stay accurately informed.
If you don’t verify, you could unknowingly risk overpaying.
How a China Sourcing Agent Can Help
As a professional China sourcing agent, we help overseas buyers:
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Verify and audit suppliers
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Conduct transparent RFQ comparisons
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Identify reliable and cost-competitive manufacturers
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Manage quality control and production oversight
Whether you are sourcing carbon fiber tubes, composite materials, or other industrial products, continuous sourcing optimization is key to maintaining cost competitiveness.