How to read a certificate of analysis
How to read a certificate of analysis (COA) before you accept a cargo
Meta description: What a COA must show, how it differs from an independent inspection report, and the red flags to look for.
A certificate of analysis lists the measured properties of a specific batch and compares them with the agreed specification. It is the document your bank and your customs broker will ask about.
A usable COA shows:
- Product name and grade, the batch, tank or vessel, and the sampling date.
- Each test parameter with its method (for example ASTM or ISO), the result, the unit and the specification limit.
- The name of the lab and a signature or stamp.
Producer COA or independent report? A producer’s COA comes from the seller’s own lab. An independent inspector such as SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek samples and tests on its own. Buyers on larger cargoes usually ask for the independent one, or both.
Red flags: no test methods listed, results that sit exactly on the limits for every parameter, a batch number that does not match the bill of lading, missing dates, or a document that cannot be verified with the issuer.
Tip: agree the specification and the inspection agency in the contract before loading, not after.