Commercial comparison
Compare the cost of the complete order
A low unit price does not describe everything needed to qualify and receive a custom part. EMTXI compares proposed routes against the same specification and commercial assumptions. This guide is a comparison method, not a price calculator or live raw-material feed.
Hold the requirement constant
Compare quotations for the same drawing revision, material specification, coating, magnetisation, inspection plan and quantity. Record deviations before interpreting a price difference. A cheaper offer with different acceptance criteria is not a direct comparison.
Identify the delivery term and named place, currency, payment schedule, quote validity and any approval conditions. Confirm which party arranges transport and customs formalities. The European Commission's customs guidance is a starting point for the documents involved; transaction-specific charges still need to be established.
Use a transparent comparison sheet
The following structure intentionally contains no assumed prices. Enter quoted values, document their sources and flag estimates. Keep one column per proposed route and a separate column for assumptions.
| Cost or condition | What to record |
|---|---|
| Parts | Unit price, quantity breaks and accepted specification |
| Setup and tooling | One-off charges, ownership and expected reuse |
| Qualification | Samples, agreed reports and any external testing |
| Packing and transport | Packaging, freight, insurance and delivery basis |
| Import costs | Applicable duty, clearance charges and tax treatment |
| Inventory | Agreed stock level, financing assumptions and holding period |
| Recurring inspection | Checks required per shipment or production lot |
Avoid counting a charge twice if it is already included in the quoted delivery term. Tax recoverability and its timing should be checked with the buyer's finance team; a cash payment and an eventual economic cost are not necessarily the same thing.
Separate cash cost from assumptions
Calculate a landed purchase total using the costs that actually apply to the defined order. If comparing a programme over time, show the method used to allocate one-off charges and inventory costs. Divide by the agreed quantity on a consistent basis.
Keep disruption, rejection and delay scenarios separate from the confirmed total. They can be useful sensitivities, but an unsupported failure probability should not be presented as a measured supplier cost. State who provided each assumption and when it should be reviewed.
Treat material indexing as a contract term
A raw-material index does not directly specify the price of a finished magnet. If the parties propose index-linked pricing, define the reference, base period, adjustment share, currency conversion, review frequency and treatment of decreases as well as increases.
Without those terms, an index chart can give a misleading impression of what a supplier owes or may charge. EMTXI does not imply that this page provides live market values or an automatic pricing formula.
Make the comparison usable
The useful output is a dated comparison with confirmed amounts, explicit estimates, technical deviations and unresolved conditions. It supports a purchasing decision alongside qualification and origin documentation. It does not turn an unconfirmed production route into an available offer.
Cost questions
Do you publish live Nd/Pr prices or automatic magnet prices?
No. This page provides a comparison method. Any reference price or adjustment mechanism used in a quotation must name its source, date, currency and agreed application.
Is a non-Chinese route always more expensive?
We do not publish a universal premium or country ranking. A comparison requires a confirmed route, equivalent specification, quantities, documentation and delivery assumptions. No non-Chinese magnet source is currently confirmed.
Should tooling be included in the piece price?
It can be shown separately or allocated over an agreed quantity. The comparison must use the same treatment for every route and identify ownership, payment and reuse conditions.
Sources and further reading
EMTXI · Reviewed
Your next step
Share the specification, order quantities, delivery location and quotation assumptions. We can structure a comparison and identify missing costs.