How to buy rebar and reinforcing steel on credit

Rebar is bought by the ton and paid for before the structure advances. This guide covers what Colombian rules require, how to convert kilos into bars and how to pay for steel upfront or on 30, 60 or 90-day terms.

Updated: October 14, 2026

What the rules require

Low-alloy deformed steel bars for concrete reinforcement in earthquake-resistant construction have their own technical regulation: Resolution 2003 of 2022 of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. It has applied since June 2023 and replaced Resolution 1856 of 2017. It covers every bar manufactured, imported or sold in Colombia, whatever the sales channel.

Reference standard. Technical requirements are verified with the tests in NTC 2289, update of August 5, 2020.
Certificate of conformity. Producers and importers must hold one, issued by a certification body accredited by ONAC. A bar without a certificate cannot be sold.
Registration with the SIC. Producers and importers register with the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce before selling.
Marking. The regulation checks labeling and marking by visual inspection. Manufacturers roll raised marks onto the bars showing the manufacturer, diameter, standard and steel grade.

Acerías Paz del Río sums up a safe purchase in three documents the supplier should be able to show: the batch quality report with its test results, the producer’s ISO 9001 quality management certificate and the certificate of compliance with the technical regulation. Ask for them with the quote and file them with the purchase order.

From kilos to bars

The structural design gives steel quantities in kilos per diameter. Suppliers quote per kilo or per ton and usually ship bars 6, 9 or 12 meters long. This table converts one into the other using the nominal mass of each diameter:

Nominal mass from the Ternium Colombia catalog (RT 2003:2022). Bar weight calculated as mass times length.
Bar	Diameter	kg per meter	6 m bar	12 m bar
No. 3	3/8" (9.5 mm)	0.560	3.36 kg	6.72 kg
No. 4	1/2" (12.7 mm)	0.994	5.96 kg	11.93 kg
No. 5	5/8" (15.9 mm)	1.552	9.31 kg	18.62 kg
No. 6	3/4" (19.1 mm)	2.235	13.41 kg	26.82 kg
No. 7	7/8" (22.2 mm)	3.042	18.25 kg	36.50 kg
No. 8	1" (25.4 mm)	3.973	23.84 kg	47.68 kg

Example

If the bar schedule calls for 2,000 kg of No. 4 bar, that is about 168 bars 12 meters long (2,000 ÷ 11.93). If the supplier only ships 6-meter bars, it is about 336. Run this calculation before you request quotes: two offers for the same tonnage can come in different lengths and change the cutting waste on site.

The reinforcing steel in the catalogs we checked has a yield strength between 420 and 540 MPa. Some manufacturers ship it in bundles of 1 or 2 tons. Along with the rebar you buy annealed black tie wire. Aceros Arequipa, for example, sells it in 25 kg coils.

When steel purchases weigh most

Steel is bought at two heavy moments: foundations and structure. In both, the purchase comes before the project receives much of its funding. Buying the full tonnage at once ties up cash. Buying by floor or by stage reduces inventory on site but means negotiating each order. A revolving line lets you buy by stage without renegotiating terms every time.

Steel prices move too. In August 2026 deformed rebar was among the inputs that pulled the monthly building construction cost index down the most, according to DANE. Check how long each quote is valid before you approve it.

Upfront or on credit

	Upfront	With the credit line
When you pay	At purchase.	On 30, 60 or 90-day terms.
When the supplier gets paid	On delivery.	On delivery.
What you need	A Parex account with your company details.	Your company’s complete documents. Decision within 48 hours of receiving them.
What it gives you	Payment history that lets us offer you better financing terms.	An available amount that is released as you repay and that you use again on the next order.

What to check when rebar arrives

Rolling marks. Manufacturer, diameter, standard and grade raised on the bar. If they are missing, ask the supplier to clarify its origin before you accept the bar.
Delivery note against purchase order. Diameters, lengths and kilos shipped.
Batch quality report. It must match the batch that reached the site.
Condition of the material. Bent bars or visible damage are noted on the delivery note before you sign.
Storage. On supports, off the ground and sorted by diameter, so similar bars are not mixed up when tying.

Parex serves projects in Bogotá, Medellín, the Coffee Region, Barranquilla and Cartagena. To compare materials credit with other ways to finance a project, read how to finance the materials for a project.

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