The Problem With Most COAs
A Certificate of Analysis should be straightforward: a document that states what is in the product, based on testing of a batch of that product. In practice, the charcoal trade has a well-documented problem with COA manipulation.
The most common forms:
Best-batch cherry picking. The supplier tests multiple batches and issues the COA based on the best result. The batch that actually ships is average or below average. The buyer has no way to know without independent testing.
Historical figures. The COA is issued with figures from months-old testing, not current production. If the supplier's process consistency has drifted, the historical COA does not reflect that.
Blended testing. The supplier blends a small quantity of high-quality material in with a standard batch specifically for sampling, then ships the standard batch. The tested sample passes; the actual shipment does not.
Fabricated documents. Less common but not unheard of in high-volume commodity trades. The document is created, not tested.
What a Legitimate COA Must Include
A properly issued Certificate of Analysis for coconut shell charcoal should contain all of the following:
Fixed Carbon Percentage
This is the primary quality indicator. It tells you the percentage of pure carbon remaining after moisture, volatiles, and ash are removed. For industrial-grade granules, this should be above 80%. A legitimate COA will show a specific figure — not a range, not "typically above" — but an actual tested result for the batch in question.
Ash Content
Non-combustible residue. Should be below 3% for premium grades. Some suppliers in the commodity market ship at 5–8% and still describe the product as high quality. The COA figure needs to match your specification exactly.
Moisture Content
Measured as a percentage of total weight. Moisture directly affects the usable carbon content you are receiving per tonne. A COA that shows moisture measured at the point of production rather than the point of packing is less useful — moisture can change significantly during storage and handling.
The COA should state when and where moisture was measured. At packing is the correct answer.
Volatile Matter
High volatile matter indicates an incomplete carbonisation process. The material may look and weigh like charcoal but will not perform like it. For activated carbon feedstock applications, volatile matter should be below 10%. The lower the better.
Particle Size Distribution
Critical for industrial applications. The COA should specify the mesh sizes tested and the percentage of material passing each screen. If you are buying 8x16 mesh granules, you need to know what percentage of the material falls within that specification — not just what the target specification is.
Questions to Ask Before You Accept a COA
Is this COA specific to the batch you are shipping to me? If the supplier cannot confirm the batch number and production date, treat the COA with caution.
Who conducted the testing? In-house testing has lower accountability than third-party laboratory testing. Ask for the test to be conducted by an accredited external laboratory — SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, or a recognised national laboratory.
Can I commission an independent inspection? A supplier who refuses independent pre-shipment inspection of a specific order is giving you important information. Suppliers confident in their product consistently welcome third-party verification.
What is your rejection policy? Ask directly: what happens if a batch does not meet the COA specification? A supplier with a genuine quality process will have a clear answer. We reprocess or reclassify material that does not meet specification. It does not ship to a buyer expecting premium grade with a discount apology.
The Right Standard
The COA should be issued after laboratory testing of the specific batch being shipped. It should be provided to you digitally before the vessel departs — not after. You should be able to verify the testing laboratory independently.
That is not an unreasonably high bar. It is what a professional export relationship should look like.
At Pearl Global Exports, we issue a Certificate of Analysis with every shipment as standard — not on request. If you would like to see an example COA before placing an order, contact us and we will send one across.