Oct 15, 2026Buying Guides
Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor MOQ and Volume Pricing: How Quotes Are Built
MOQ by family: screw terminal 100 pcs, snap-in 500 pcs, radial and SMD 5,000 pcs per part number — negotiable case by case. How FOB USD quotes, packaging and 7-day validity work.
Minimum order quantities at COREVIA follow the capacitor family, because the four families run on very different production lines. A screw terminal can for a large UPS is assembled and welded in small batches, while a radial or SMD part runs through a high-speed line where one changeover swallows thousands of pieces. The result: screw terminal from 100 pieces, snap-in from 500 pieces, radial leaded and SMD from 5,000 pieces per part number — and every number is discussable when the project justifies it.
MOQ by Capacitor Family
- Screw terminal (big can): 100 pcs per part number.
- Snap-in: 500 pcs per part number.
- Radial leaded: 5,000 pcs per part number.
- SMD: 5,000 pcs per part number.
"Part number" here means one combination of rated voltage, capacitance and case size. The MOQ applies to that combination, not to the total order — you do not need 5,000 pieces of one radial rating to combine it with 5,000 of another on the same production run.
Why the Numbers Differ So Much
Screw terminal and large snap-in cans are built in relatively small, partly manual batches — winding, welding and assembly steps where a 100-piece or 500-piece lot is an economically sane run. Radial and SMD capacitors run on automated lines at thousands of pieces per hour; the line cost of setting up one rating is only worth it above a few thousand pieces. This is why the MOQ gap between families is a factor of 50, not a pricing trick.
The MOQ Is a Starting Point, Not a Wall
Pilot builds below the standard MOQ are sometimes possible — it depends on material availability and where the production schedule has gaps at that moment. If your project genuinely needs a smaller first batch, say so in the inquiry with the quantity and the target date, and we will confirm case by case what is feasible. Whatever is agreed ends up in the quotation in writing; nothing is assumed on your side.
Packaging Quantities Follow the Specification
How many pieces go into a box, a carton or a reel is decided by the part specification, not by a fixed rule: small radial parts pack by the thousand, large cans pack individually or in small cartons, and SMD parts are supplied taped and reeled for automatic placement. The exact packing quantity for your part number is confirmed on the order documents before production starts, so your incoming inspection and stock-keeping can plan around it.
How COREVIA Quotations Are Built
- Terms and currency: FOB, USD. Our responsibility covers the goods cleared for export and delivered on board at the Chinese port; freight is arranged on your side.
- Validity: 7 days. Foil and material prices move, so a quotation older than a week is re-confirmed on request rather than honored blindly.
- What the quotation shows: part number with specification revision, quantity, unit price, FOB terms and the validity date — everything you need to compare it against another supplier's paper on the same basis.
Volume pricing follows quantity: send the target order quantity — or the expected annual usage — and the quotation reflects that tier.
Sample Fees Are Credited to Your First Order
Samples are charged, not free — which keeps sample requests serious and keeps the same production standard as mass production. When the evaluation goes well and you place an order, the sample fee is credited back against that order, so in normal cooperation the samples end up free. Sample freight is quoted per case, depending on weight, speed and destination. The full sample process is described in sample qualification: from request to production approval.
MOQ and Pricing FAQ
Can I order below the MOQ for a prototype build?
Sometimes. It depends on material on hand and the production schedule. Send the quantity and date and we confirm in writing what is possible.
Does the unit price drop at higher volumes?
Yes — quotations are built for the quantity you ask about. For project business, send the expected annual usage per part number and we quote accordingly.
Why does a quotation expire after 7 days?
Because the material prices behind it move. Ask for a refresh before you place the order and we re-confirm the price — if the market has not moved, neither has the quote.
Do you quote EXW, CIF or DDP?
FOB in USD is our standard trading form. Other terms can be discussed when the project requires them.
How does the quality commitment work in practice?
If a genuine quality issue is confirmed in a delivered batch, the defective quantity is replaced free of charge with your next order — as many good pieces as there were confirmed defective ones.
Tell us the part number, the quantity and the target delivery date — we will come back with an FOB quotation, the packing details and a production schedule. Related reading: lead times for samples and production orders.
