Alex Stewart International

What Alex Stewart International does

Alex Stewart International (ASI), founded in 1978 and headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom, is a privately held provider of independent third-party inspection, sampling, weighing, laboratory assaying, and certification services to the global metals & minerals and agricultural commodities sectors. The company operates a wholly-owned network of subsidiaries and offices spanning more than 40 countries, with material operating entities in the United Kingdom, India (Mumbai and a newly inaugurated Ahmedabad Fire Assay Laboratory in August 2025), Brazil (São Paulo), Argentina (Mendoza), and a recently terminated Dubai entity. Core service lines comprise contractual inspection and load/discharge supervision, UKAS ISO 17025-accredited laboratory testing at its Liverpool metal testing laboratory covering non-ferrous and ferrous ores, precious and platinum group metals, ferro-alloys, scrap metal, agricultural commodities, food products, and complex materials, plus government services including hydrocarbons and minerals audit, mineral export certification, customs revenue optimization, and foodstuffs inspection.

The firm generates revenue through professional services fees across three primary customer segments: commodity trading companies (primary), government agencies, and business sector clients, delivered via direct B2B sales with a personalized-attention service model. The business is family-controlled, with Graham Stewart and K Alexander Stewart serving as managing directors, and operates without external private equity or public market backing. Its UKAS, ISO 17020, ISO 9001, NABCB, GMP+, and GAFTA accreditations are prerequisites for serving government customs, LME/LBMA/LPPM trade settlement, and feed-safety markets, functioning as the technical and regulatory backbone of the business. Marketing is conducted primarily through attendance at global commodities conferences (LME Week, LBMA, PDAC, CESCO, Asia Copper Week, Black Sea Grain, etc.), a content partnership with Metals Daily, and LinkedIn, with no direct technology platform or software product in its offering.

Name

Alex Stewart International

Legal name

ASI International

Website

https://alexstewartinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Commodity Inspection and Assaying Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Precious Metals Assaying, Metallurgical Testing & Certification (IMAKAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sampling, Inspection & Cargo Survey Services (Inbound/Outbound, Hold Inspections) (AFAOAMAF), Food Safety Auditing & Inspection Services (GFSI/Third-Party Audits) (AFALAAAB), Import/Export & Border Compliance Support (FSVP, Prior Notice, Health Certificates) (AFALADAE)

Keywords

• Commodity inspection services
• Laboratory assaying services
• Mineral sampling analysis
• Agricultural commodity testing
• Government mineral certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Inspection and Sampling Services: Professional inspection, weighing, and sampling services for all commodities and products. Services are delivered to commodity trading, business and government sectors.
2. Laboratory Testing and Analysis: Laboratory testing and assaying services at its UKAS ISO 17025 Accredited metal testing laboratory in Liverpool, covering ores, concentrates, metals, and commodities.
3. Government Certification and Audit Services: Certification, auditing, and control services for government agencies including audit of hydrocarbons and minerals import/export, certification of mineral exports, control of minerals in transit, customs revenue optimization, and inspection and certification of foodstuffs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Alex Stewart International provides independent third-party inspection, sampling, weighing, assaying, and laboratory analysis services to commodity trading companies, mining and minerals firms, agricultural businesses, and government agencies. Services are delivered through a global network spanning over 40 countries and supported by a UKAS ISO 17025 accredited metal testing laboratory in Liverpool, England, covering non-ferrous and ferrous ores, concentrates, minor metals, precious and platinum group metals, ferro-alloys, recycled scrap, agricultural commodities, food products, fuels, and plastics.

Product overview

Alex Stewart International is a leading worldwide analysis, sampling, inspection, and certification company operating across 40+ countries. The company offers three interconnected service lines: Inspections (contractual inspection and supervision), Analysis & Testing (UKAS ISO 17025 accredited laboratory services), and Government Services. The testing division includes specialized modules for Metals & Minerals, Food/Agriculture/Environmental, and general Laboratory Analysis. The company operates its UKAS ISO 17025 accredited metal testing laboratory in Liverpool, England, providing services to commodity trading, business, and government sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASI Agriculture: Agricultural inspection and analysis services division

Products and services

• Inspection Services

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Metals DailyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2023Alex Stewart International partners with Metals Daily, an industry news publication, to provide market news content including gold news, pricing trends, and commodity market analysis featured on the company's website. This partnership provides visibility and thought leadership positioning in the metals and mining sector.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SGS SA: Global leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification with deep minerals and metals trade coverage. Closest direct competitor to ASI across assaying, cargo inspection and government-mandated services.
• Bureau Veritas: Major TIC group operating commodity inspection, metals & minerals testing and government services. Direct rival that has historically consolidated independent assayers (e.g. Inspectorate) into its global network.
• Intertek Group plc: Testing and inspection multinational with strong agri-food and mineral products divisions. Overlaps directly with ASI's food/agriculture and metals inspection lines.
• ALS Limited: Australia-based testing services group with a globally significant minerals and geochemistry assay business. Closest mid-to-large scale peer for precious and base metals assaying services.
• Cotecna Inspection: Mid-sized TIC firm with comparable global inspection, sampling and government-mandated verification services for commodities. Most direct mid-market peer to ASI by size and footprint.
• Mérieux NutriSciences: Food testing, inspection and audit services group operating globally. Direct comparator to ASI's Food, Agriculture & Environmental laboratory analysis line.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Largest food and environmental testing network globally. Competes with ASI's food/agriculture lab services but does not focus on metals or trade cargo inspection.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC group covering industrial testing, inspection and certification. Overlaps with ASI on industrial materials and certification mandates but does not specialise in commodity trade inspection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/11993240

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alex Stewart International