CNC Compass supplier indexsupplier guide
Lead Times and Minimum Orders: What Chinese CNC Suppliers State
Production lead times and minimum order quantities published by 595 Chinese machining suppliers, how to read the marketplace answers, and what to confirm in a quote.
| Decision factor | Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prototype or 1–10 pieces | Shortlist suppliers whose profile states a 1-piece MOQ | 184 of the 299 suppliers that publish an MOQ state 1 piece. |
| Order placed before a deadline | Ask for the peak-season lead time, not only the off-season one | 39% of suppliers state a longer lead time in peak season. |
| Supplier states 1,000 pieces or more | Ask whether a first-article or sample run is possible below that MOQ | 31 suppliers, 10% of those publishing an MOQ, start at 1,000 or more. |
| No lead time or MOQ on the profile | Ask in the inquiry; do not assume | 296 of 595 suppliers publish no MOQ. |
What suppliers state
Made-in-China.com asks each supplier for an off-season and a peak-season lead time, chosen from fixed options. Across the CNC Compass catalogue:
| Lead time | Off season (575 profiles) | Peak season (578 profiles) |
|---|---|---|
| Within 15 workdays | 321 (56%) | 163 (28%) |
| One month | 215 (37%) | 324 (56%) |
| 1–3 months | 35 (6%) | 76 (13%) |
| 3–6 months | 4 (1%) | 6 (1%) |
| 6–12 months | 0 | 9 (2%) |
Where a supplier ticked several options, the slowest one is counted. 224 suppliers (39%) state a longer lead time in peak season than off season, so ask which one applies to your order date.
Minimum order quantity
Half of the suppliers (299 of 595) publish a minimum order quantity. Of those, 184 (62%) state a single piece, 50 (17%) between 2 and 99, 34 (11%) between 100 and 999, and 31 (10%) 1,000 pieces or more. For example, Alumag Aluminum Tech (Taicang) states “Minimum Order Quantity: 1 PC” and a lead time within 15 workdays in both seasons; Anhui Dongou Machinery Technology states “1000 Pcs”.
A profile-level MOQ usually refers to the supplier’s main product line. For a custom machined part, ask for prices at the quantities you will actually order, for example 10, 100, and 1,000 pieces.
What to put in the inquiry
State the quantity, the date the parts must ship, and whether a sample or first article comes first. Ask the supplier to quote the lead time from purchase order or from drawing approval, and to say whether outside processes such as anodizing or heat treatment are included in it.
How these figures were counted
CNC Compass reads each listed supplier’s Made-in-China.com company profile and keeps every answer with its quote and page address. The figures above cover the 595 supplier records published on this site, read on 2026-10-05. They describe this catalogue, which is mostly suppliers of machined and fabricated parts found on that marketplace; they are not a census of Chinese manufacturing. Each supplier record on this site shows the same answers with a link to the page they come from.
Frequently asked questions
What lead time do Chinese CNC suppliers usually state?
Do Chinese machining suppliers accept one-piece orders?
Is the stated lead time a commitment?
Sources
- Alumag Aluminum Tech (Taicang): MOQ and lead time , Made-in-China.com supplier profile Checked 2026-10-05
- Anhui Dongou Machinery Technology: MOQ 1000 Pcs , Made-in-China.com supplier profile Checked 2026-10-05
- Figures: CNC Compass fact store, guide statistics of 2026-10-07 , CNC Compass Checked 2026-10-07
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Submit a briefEditorial guidance should be checked against its cited first-party sources before publication. Updated 2026-10-07.