If you are placing your first wholesale tobacco order, three numbers decide almost everything about the deal: the minimum order quantity (MOQ), the payment terms, and the lead time. Understanding how each works upfront lets you plan cash flow, shipping and shelf dates with confidence.
What is an MOQ, and how is it measured?
In tobacco wholesale the MOQ is usually expressed in master cases (the outer carton a supplier ships), not individual packs. A master case might hold 500 packs of cigarettes, a set number of shisha tubs, or a mixed count of vape units. MOQs exist because factory-direct pricing only makes sense at volume and because export documentation is prepared per shipment.
- Per-SKU MOQ — the minimum for a single flavour or variant.
- Per-order MOQ — the minimum total across a mixed order, which lets you spread risk across several lines.
A good supplier will let you build a mixed container so you can test demand across brands before committing to full lines.
Payment terms you will encounter
Most cross-border tobacco trade settles on one of two instruments:
- T/T (telegraphic transfer / bank wire) — common for established relationships, often split as a deposit on order and balance before shipment.
- L/C (letter of credit) — preferred for larger first orders, because the bank guarantees payment against shipping documents, protecting both sides.
New buyers should expect a deposit on the first order; terms typically loosen as a track record builds.
Lead times: from PO to port
Lead time covers order confirmation, production or picking, export documentation, and freight booking. Stocked lines ship far faster than made-to-order runs. Always confirm whether an item is in stock or produced to order, and ask for the documentation timeline separately — customs paperwork, not the goods, is often the critical path.
How to plan your first order
- Start with a mixed order across your top 3–4 lines rather than one deep line.
- Confirm the MOQ per SKU and per order in writing.
- Agree Incoterms (EXW, FOB or CIF) so you know exactly where cost and risk transfer.
- Ask for the full document set your destination customs will require.
Sourcing from a Dubai export house? Fakhama Al Zain supplies wholesale buyers across three continents with documented freight and factory-direct pricing. Request a quote or the current line sheet and we’ll reply within one business day.
