type
concept
created
Tue Apr 07 2026 02:00:00 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)
updated
Tue Apr 07 2026 02:00:00 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)
sources
raw/articles/PRD
tags
pre-production surplus planning mills v1-feature

Pre-Production Announcements

abstract
Mills can list planned overruns and expected surplus before manufacturing completes, allowing buyers to plan purchases ahead of time -- matching runs but exclusivity is not granted until the item becomes available.

Overview

Pre-production announcements let mills signal future surplus availability before the paper is actually produced. This gives buyers visibility into upcoming supply and allows them to plan purchases in advance, reducing the time-to-sale once production completes. It is a V1 (Phase 2, Month 3-4) feature, not in the MVP.

How It Works

  1. A mill creates a surplus item with is_pre_production = true and an estimated_production_date (must be within 30 days)
  2. The item enters the system with status pre_production
  3. The matching algorithm runs on pre-production items, finding compatible buyers
  4. Matched buyers see the item in the "Coming Soon" section of their newsletter
  5. Buyers can express interest (soft reservation, non-binding)
  6. When the estimated_production_date is reached, the status transitions from pre_production to available
  7. Only at available status can exclusivity be granted

Status Transition

pre_production --> available --> exclusive --> reserved --> sold

The pre_production to available transition happens automatically when the estimated production date is reached. The mill receives a reminder 3 days before the estimated date to confirm or update specifications (quantity and price may change from estimates).

Business Rules

Rule Detail
Date constraint estimated_production_date must be within 30 days
Quantity Estimated, may change when production completes
Price Indicative, may be adjusted
Matching Runs on pre-production items (buyers see them)
Exclusivity NOT granted until status changes to available
Buyer interest Soft reservation only (non-binding)
Mill reminder 3 days before estimated_production_date

Why This Matters

In traditional surplus trading, mills wait until surplus is physically sitting in the warehouse before offering it. By then, the surplus competes with whatever the broker happens to have in their pipeline. Pre-production announcements give the marketplace a forward-looking advantage:

Newsletter Integration

Pre-production items appear in a dedicated "Coming Soon" section of the buyer newsletter, clearly distinguished from available surplus. The section shows:

Sources

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