Raw materials for Automotive

Steel sheet, aluminium, engineering plastics, rubber and composites: qualified supply for OEMs and tier suppliers.

Sourcing for Automotive starts with the right grade, consistent delivery and traceable documentation. Below you will find the material groups the sector uses, guide pages, current offers and verified suppliers.

How to source reliably

Work with verified (KYC) suppliers, request samples and a trial lot before large volumes, use independent inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, etc.) and tie payment terms to shipping milestones. The platform deal room keeps offer history, the digital contract and delivery steps on record in one place.

Material groups used in Automotive

Plastics & Polymers

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Polypropylene (PP)

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Hot-rolled coil & sheet

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Aluminium

Guide Offers

Rubber

Natural rubber & latex

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Cotton

Guide Offers

Paints, pigments & coatings

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂)

Guide Offers

Composite materials

Glass fibre & reinforcements

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Lithium compounds & ore

Guide Offers

Leather & hides

Raw hides, pickled & semi-processed leather

Guide Offers

Electrical & cable materials

Conductors & winding wire

Guide Offers

Furniture & upholstery materials

Foams & cushioning

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE)

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Cold-rolled, galvanized & pre-painted sheet

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Copper

Guide Offers

Rubber

Synthetic rubbers

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Polyester fibre & filament

Guide Offers

Composite materials

Carbon fibre & other high-performance fibres

Guide Offers

Leather & hides

Finished leather

Guide Offers

Furniture & upholstery materials

Springs, spring units & webbing

Guide Offers

Paints, pigments & coatings

Pigments (inorganic, organic, effect)

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Battery materials (cathode, anode, electrolyte)

Guide Offers

Electrical & cable materials

Cable compounds

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

PVC & vinyls

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Steel plate

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Zinc & lead

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Guide Offers

Rubber

Carbon black

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Wool, silk & natural fibres

Guide Offers

Paints, pigments & coatings

Resins & binders

Guide Offers

Composite materials

Composite resins & gelcoats

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Silicon metal & polysilicon

Guide Offers

Leather & hides

Artificial & synthetic leather

Guide Offers

Electrical & cable materials

Electrical insulation materials

Guide Offers

Furniture & upholstery materials

Upholstery fabrics & coverings

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

PET & polyesters

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Rebar & welded mesh

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Nickel, tin & cobalt

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Nylon, viscose, acrylic & other man-made fibres

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Rare earths & magnets

Guide Offers

Rubber

Rubber chemicals & process oils

Guide Offers

Paints, pigments & coatings

Paint & coating additives

Guide Offers

Composite materials

Core materials, prepregs & SMC/BMC

Guide Offers

Electrical & cable materials

Transformer, motor & switchgear materials

Guide Offers

Furniture & upholstery materials

Edge banding, surface finishes & furniture adhesives

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Polystyrene & styrenics (GPPS, HIPS, EPS, ABS, SAN)

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Brass & bronze

Guide Offers

Paints, pigments & coatings

Industrial paints & coatings

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Graphite & carbon materials

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Wire rod & wire

Guide Offers

Rubber

Reclaimed rubber, crumb & end-of-life tyres

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Yarns & greige fabrics

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Engineering plastics

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Billet, bloom & slab

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Ferroalloys

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Technical textiles & nonwovens

Guide Offers

Rubber

Rubber compounds & masterbatches

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Technology metals (gallium, germanium, indium, tantalum)

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Recycled plastic granules

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Pig iron, DRI & HBI

Guide Offers

Rubber

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Magnesium & minor metals

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

PCB & electronics manufacturing materials

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Masterbatch & plastic additives

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Stainless steel

Guide Offers

Textile fibres & yarns

Guide Offers

Non-ferrous metals

Metal powders (PM, additive manufacturing)

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Pipes, tubes & structural sections

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Polyurethane raw materials

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Electrical (silicon) steel

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Bioplastics & biodegradable polymers

Guide Offers

Plastics & Polymers

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE, TPU, TPV)

Guide Offers

Iron & Steel

Special & alloy steels

Guide Offers

Paints, pigments & coatings

Guide Offers

Electrical & cable materials

Guide Offers

Furniture & upholstery materials

Guide Offers

Composite materials

Guide Offers

Electronics & battery raw materials

Guide Offers

Leather & hides

Guide Offers

Material profiles

Polypropylene (PP): grades, MFI and sourcing guide

Polypropylene is one of the most widely used thermoplastics thanks to its low density, chemical resistance and easy processing. It is supplied as homopolymer, random and impact copolymer in injection, film, fibre and extrusion grades.

HDPE (high-density polyethylene) sourcing guide

HDPE offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, moisture barrier and chemical resistance, making it the choice for bottles, jerrycans, pipes and film. For pipe applications, the PE80/PE100 class and long-term pressure rating are decisive.

PVC resin: K-value, grades and sourcing

PVC resin is produced by suspension or emulsion polymerisation; the K-value indicates molecular weight and drives the application. Higher K-values suit flexible products, lower K-values rigid profiles and pipes.

PET chips (bottle & fibre grade) sourcing guide

The key parameter of PET chips is intrinsic viscosity (IV): bottle grade is typically 0.80–0.84 dl/g. Acetaldehyde level, colour (b*) and moisture directly affect quality in food-contact packaging.

Recycled plastics (rPET, rPE, rPP) sourcing guide

Recycled plastics are a fast-growing market for manufacturers aiming to cut carbon footprint and cost. Post-consumer (PCR) vs post-industrial (PIR) origin, contamination level, colour consistency and traceability certificates define quality.

Hot-rolled coil (HRC) buying guide

Hot-rolled coil is the base of flat steel products, used for pipes, sections, automotive chassis and general fabrication. Grade (S235–S355), thickness tolerance, edge condition (mill/trimmed) and surface (black/pickled) decide offer comparisons.

Rebar (reinforcing steel) buying guide

Rebar provides tensile strength in reinforced concrete. Yield strength, ductility class (B, C), weldability and the market standard (TS 708, BS 4449, ASTM A615) are the basis for comparing offers; request a mill test certificate (MTC) for every lot.

Stainless steel 304 vs 316: differences and sourcing

Austenitic grade 304 offers general-purpose corrosion resistance, while 316 with 2–3% molybdenum is far more resistant in chloride environments (seawater, chemicals). Surface finish (2B, BA, No.4), thickness and the nickel-linked alloy surcharge drive cost.

Aluminium ingot, sheet and extrusion sourcing guide

Aluminium is usually priced as LME plus a regional premium (e.g. Rotterdam duty-paid). For ingot, purity (P1020A 99.7%) matters; for flat and extruded products, alloy-temper (5083-H111, 6063-T5) and surface quality are key.

Copper cathode (Grade A) buying guide

Copper cathode to LME Grade A (99.99% Cu) is the main feedstock for wire, tube and alloy production. Fraud risk in this market is high: producer/brand verification, independent inspection, bank-backed payment (LC) and document checks are essential.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂): rutile vs anatase sourcing guide

TiO₂ is the key white pigment providing whiteness and opacity in paints, plastics and paper. Rutile grades suit exterior and high-UV applications, anatase grades interior and paper uses; surface treatment, dispersibility and gloss are critical when comparing offers.

Natural rubber (TSR 20, RSS 3) sourcing guide

Natural rubber is mainly sourced from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia as technically specified blocks (TSR) or ribbed smoked sheets (RSS). Dirt, ash, volatile matter and Mooney viscosity define the grade; prices reference SGX/SICOM futures.

Raw cotton (lint) sourcing guide

Cotton quality is defined by HVI measurements: staple length, micronaire, strength, colour and trash. Contracts under ICA rules, sample approval and an arbitration clause are the standard safeguards in international cotton trade.

Lithium carbonate (battery grade) sourcing guide

Battery-grade lithium carbonate requires purity above 99.5% with low sodium, iron and magnetic impurities; cathode makers usually run a lengthy sample qualification. Prices are volatile, so index-linked long-term contracts (e.g. Fastmarkets, SMM) are common.

Glass fibre (roving, CSM, woven) sourcing guide

Glass fibre is the reinforcement of composites; E-glass is the most common type. Product form (roving, chopped strand mat, woven roving), tex, areal weight and resin-compatible sizing (polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy) drive selection. Boatbuilding may require class type approval.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a reliable Automotive supplier?

Prefer suppliers with the verified badge, a high trust score and completed deals. For large volumes, post a buying request to compare several offers and sign the contract in the deal room.

Can I buy small quantities as well?

Yes. For samples and small quantities you can message suppliers directly from the directory, free and commission-free. The deal room is designed for large, protected deals.