A 20-foot container of shade netting is a serious order — and the wrong net is a six-month, five-figure mistake. Whether you are a distributor or a grower importing direct, the manufacturer you pick matters more than the price. Here is the 12-point checklist we would want a buyer to run on us.
Most buyers shop a shade net manufacturer the way they shop a commodity — line up three quotes and pick the cheapest. That works for pencils. It does not work for netting, because the cost of the net is a small part of what it protects. A season of lost crop, a shade structure that frays in one summer, or a container that arrives off-spec will cost you far more than the few cents per square metre you saved.
Shade net is only as good as the two things you cannot see from a photo: the resin and the UV stabilizer. A net knitted from recycled or mixed resin can look identical to a virgin-HDPE net on the day it arrives — and fail half-way through its first season as the yarn embrittles and tears under tension. A factory that will not show you its resin source and UV test report is asking you to carry the risk they cut.
The good news: a reputable manufacturer is easy to separate from the rest, once you know what to ask. We have broken the job into twelve checks across three areas — material, documents and service.
Start here, because nothing downstream can fix a weak net.
1. Virgin HDPE resin. Ask outright whether the yarn is 100% virgin HDPE. Recycled resin shortens the service life of HDPE netting dramatically and is the single biggest reason imported net "looks fine" but fails early. A serious factory states it in the spec, not just in the sales email.
2. UV stabilizer content. A quality shade net carries 0.5–1% UV stabilizer, mixed into the yarn before knitting, not sprayed on afterwards. Ask for the percentage and the weathering test report that backs it. No number, no order.
3. GSM tolerance. When a factory quotes "90 gsm", ask what the tolerance is. Reputable suppliers hold ±5% and test each batch; weaker suppliers drift ±15% or more, and you discover it when the net is lighter and cheaper-feeling than the sample.
4. Knit consistency. Look for an even, uniform knit with no thin patches or dropped stitches. An inconsistent knit gives uneven shade and tears early at the weak points. Ask for a close-up photo of the fabric, not just a stock shot.
5. Export license and customs record. A manufacturer that exports regularly can show a valid export license and a list of past export markets. If a "factory" has never shipped a container under its own name, you are probably talking to a trading company marking up someone else's net.
6. Sealed sample versus bulk. Before production, a good factory sends a sealed reference sample. The bulk order must match it — GSM, shade percentage and colour. Put that requirement in the contract.
7. Certifications and test reports. Ask for an ISO 9001 certificate and an SGS (or equivalent) test report on the actual product line. These cost a factory money to maintain, so their absence is a signal, not an oversight.
8. Clear MOQ and lead time. A real manufacturer quotes a firm MOQ per colour and GSM, and a lead time tied to order size — not "send us your quantity first" followed by silence. Shifting MOQ is a red flag.
9. English communication and responsiveness. If you cannot get a straight, technical answer to "what is your UV percentage?" in writing, walk away. A factory that understands your market answers in your language and within a day.
10. Customization. A true manufacturer can customize width, shade percentage, colour, and add eyelets or reinforced edges. A middleman can only sell you what is on the shelf.
11. Pre-shipment inspection. Ask for third-party or factory inspection before the container leaves, with photos of the packed goods. A supplier that resists inspection is one you cannot verify.
12. Payment terms that protect you. Standard trade terms — a deposit against the order and the balance against the bill of lading — protect both sides. A demand for 100% upfront with no inspection rights is how bad deals end.
| Check | Green flag | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Resin | 100% virgin HDPE, stated in spec | Recycled or "mixed", no detail |
| UV stabilizer | 0.5–1%, lab-tested | No number or test report |
| GSM tolerance | ±5%, batch-tested | ±15% or unstated |
| Knit | Uniform, even shade | Patchy, thin spots |
| Export license | Valid license + markets list | Never exported under own name |
| Sample vs bulk | Sealed sample, bulk matches | Sample differs from bulk |
| Certifications | ISO 9001, SGS report | None offered |
| MOQ & lead time | Firm, per colour/GSM | Vague or shifting |
| Communication | Technical, written, fast | Evasive, sales-only talk |
| Customization | Width, %, colour, edges | "What's on the shelf" |
| Inspection | Pre-shipment offered | Inspection resisted |
| Payment | Deposit + balance vs B/L | 100% upfront, no rights |
Whatever the order size, pin these in writing before you commit: the shade percentage (30–90%, matching your crop or use — see our shade net percentage guide), the GSM and its tolerance, the UV stabilizer percentage, the width (up to 12 m for our line), and the colour (dark green, black, or reflective aluminum). A manufacturer that happily confirms all five is one you can work with; one that dodges any of them is telling you something.
When you are down to a shortlist, send each candidate the same ten questions and compare the answers side by side: resin source, UV percentage, GSM tolerance, shade percentage, width limit, MOQ, lead time, payment terms, pre-shipment inspection, and three buyer references. The factory that answers all ten in writing, quickly and precisely, is almost certainly the one that will knit the net you actually paid for. We are happy to be measured against that list — tell us your specification and we will answer all ten before you spend anything.
Ask for the resin specification in writing and a batch test report. 100% virgin HDPE should be stated plainly, with a UV stabilizer percentage alongside it. If they will not confirm both, assume the net is cut with recycled resin.
0.5–1% UV stabilizer, mixed into the yarn before knitting. Below that the net degrades early under sun; "sprayed-on" stabilizer washes out and is not a substitute.
±5% is the mark of a batch-tested supplier. Anything over ±10% means the net you receive can be meaningfully lighter — and weaker — than the sample you approved.
No. Standard trade terms are a deposit against the order with the balance against the bill of lading, and a pre-shipment inspection before the container leaves. A demand for 100% upfront with no inspection rights is a red flag.
Price is the last thing to compare. Vet the resin, the UV content and the paper trail first — then negotiate. Send us your specification and we will answer every check on this list in writing.
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