MOQ — Minimum Order Quantity — is the first number B2B buyers negotiate and the least understood. Here's how it actually works in filament manufacturing.
Why MOQs exist
Every production run has fixed costs: color masterbatch setup, line changeover, drying, QC testing, packaging changeovers. Below a certain volume, those fixed costs make the run unprofitable — that's the MOQ. It's a math problem, not a policy.
Real MOQ tiers in filament (VOXFIL)
| Product type | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|
| Stock colors (ready formulations) | 10 kg |
| Custom color on stock material | 10 kg |
| Private label (stock color) | 100 kg |
| Custom color + private label | 300 kg |
| Custom spool tooling | 500 kg |
| Custom formulation | 1,000 kg |
| Container program | 10 t |
How to negotiate MOQ
- Mix colors: one run, multiple colors can share setup if the supplier allows
- Re-orders: lock a lower reorder MOQ after the first run (tooling is paid)
- Standing orders: split a large MOQ into monthly releases with a contract
- Pay for setup: some suppliers accept a setup fee to lower the MOQ — often worth it for a test color
Transparent MOQ tiers are published at VOXFIL — no "call for pricing" games.