Key takeaways
Plan against the calendar your supplier actually runs, not against a flat lead time quoted on a website.
Campaigns, not continuous output
Concentrated omega-3 is produced in campaigns: a run of one specification, then a changeover. That means lead time for a given ratio is not a constant, and the specification you want may sit either side of a changeover.
Ask which campaign window your order falls into, and whether the ratio can be produced in an adjacent window if the schedule moves.
Transit and documentation
Ocean transit is the visible part of the lead time. Destination clearance and document handling are the parts that get discovered late, usually because a certificate was requested after the container shipped.
Confirm which documents travel with the shipment and which are issued on request, and start that request before the vessel departs.
The cost of waiting
A price held for a month is not a saving if the campaign has moved past and the next window is two months away. Compare the landed cost of the re-planned schedule against the quoted discount before deciding to wait.
Related products and guides
The specifications below are the ones most often held in planned stock for seasonal demand.