Quality disputes often arise because the shipment description was broad, origin and destination methods differ, or the material changed or became mixed during handling. The contract should distinguish grade, quantity, moisture, contamination, chemistry, recovery and packaging claims.
Immediate actions
- Preserve the cargo and avoid processing beyond what is necessary for safety or mitigation.
- Notify the counterparty within the contractual period with reservation of rights.
- Identify affected lots, packages and container or seal numbers.
- Appoint the agreed surveyor or invite joint inspection.
- Preserve representative samples, photographs, video, weights and laboratory records.
Establish causation and measurement
Determine whether the issue existed at shipment, arose in transit, resulted from sampling error, or reflects a difference in interpretation. Compare origin and destination evidence using the agreed method. A destination plant result can be commercially relevant but may not be comparable with a small origin sample unless the contract says so.
Possible remedies
Depending on severity and contract terms, remedies may include a tolerance adjustment, moisture or contamination deduction, assay settlement, sorting or treatment cost, replacement, rejection, resale loss or negotiated credit. The claimant should mitigate loss and avoid unsupported penalties.
General commercial guidance only. Grade nomenclature and market practice vary. The signed contract, current official specifications and transaction-specific professional advice control.