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The stone industry Buying Guide

Everything to know before you buy stone, machines, tools, chemicals or services: what each one is, where it's best used, which countries to source from, when to buy and what import duties to expect.

Product guides
55
Sourcing countries
31
Last updated
Oct 2026

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Five guides, one supply chain

Stones

13 guides

Natural and engineered stone

What each stone is, where it's best used, which countries to source it from, when to buy and what it costs to import.

  • Marble
  • Granite
  • Quartzite
  • Travertine
  • Limestone
  • Sandstone
  • Slate
  • Onyx
  • Basalt
  • +4 more
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Machinery

13 guides

Quarry and factory machinery

  • Quarry Diamond Wire Saw
  • Quarry Chain Saw
  • Quarry Drilling Rig
  • Multi-Wire Saw
  • +9 more
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Tools & Abrasives

12 guides

Tools, abrasives and handling

  • Diamond Saw Blades and Segments
  • Diamond Wire
  • Fickert and Frankfurt Abrasives
  • Resin Polishing Pads
  • +8 more
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Chemicals

9 guides

Adhesives, sealers and stone care

  • Epoxy Resins
  • Polyester Mastics
  • Setting Adhesives and Grouts
  • Impregnating Sealers
  • +5 more
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Services

8 guides

Services that de-risk a deal

  • Freight Forwarding and Logistics
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection
  • Laboratory Testing and Certification
  • Sourcing Agents and Consulting
  • +4 more
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Timing

The stone sourcing calendar

Quarry weather, monsoons, the Lunar New Year and the August break in Europe all move supply and prices. Green is the best time to buy.

Best Normal Slower or pricier
Best months to buy each stone
StoneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Marble
Granite
Quartzite
Travertine
Limestone
Sandstone
Slate
Onyx
Basalt
Soapstone
Bluestone
Engineered Quartz
Sintered Stone

Import duties

How a US duty bill stacks up in 2026

The US Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs in February 2026, and the temporary Section 122 surcharge that replaced them expired on 24 July. What applies now is a stack of layers, and the origin country matters as much as the product. Every product guide shows its base rates for the US, EU, UK and India, plus the US surcharge for each origin it covers.

Worked examples (illustrative)

  • Polished marble slabs from Italy2.5% MFN, topped up to the 10% EU minimum10%
  • Polished marble slabs from Türkiye2.5% MFN + 12.5% Section 30115%
  • Granite countertops from India3.7% MFN + 10% Section 30113.7%
  • Granite countertops from China3.7% MFN + 12.5% + 25% legacy Section 30141.2%

Last updated October 2026. Confirm with a licensed customs broker before pricing an order.

  1. 1MFN base rateThe HTS "general" rate. For stone it runs from free (raw blocks) to 6.5% (worked "other stone" such as quartzite and basalt).
  2. 2Section 301 origin surchargeSince 24 July 2026: +10% for origins such as India and Mexico; +12.5% for Brazil, Türkiye, Vietnam, Egypt, China and others. EU goods pay at least 10% in total. Goods already under Section 232 are exempt.
  3. 3Legacy China dutiesChina-origin goods still carry the 2018–19 Section 301 duty, 25% on most stone, quartz and machinery lines.
  4. 4Trade remediesProduct-specific anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties: quartz surfaces, ceramic tile, and diamond sawblades from China. These can outweigh everything else.
  5. 5Metal contentSteel and aluminium goods (racks, anchors, some machinery) can fall under Section 232: 50% on articles wholly of those metals, 25% on derivatives.

Where the trade meets

Trade fairs worth planning around

New varieties, machine launches and show pricing cluster around these dates. They're also the best time to meet suppliers in person.

All events, with countdowns
  • Brazil flag São Paulo, Brazil

    Marmomac Brazil

    2–4 March 2027

    Brazilian granite and quartzite (formerly Vitória Stone Fair).

  • China flag Xiamen, China

    Xiamen International Stone Fair

    16–19 March 2027

    The largest stone fair in the world: blocks, slabs, machinery and tools.

  • USA flag Orlando, USA

    Coverings

    6–9 April 2027

    North America's tile and natural stone show.

  • Italy flag Verona, Italy

    Marmomac

    28 September – 1 October 2027

    Premium stone, technology and design. The machinery launch pad.

For every order

Buying essentials

  1. 01

    Samples, then photos of your lot

    Approve a sample for type and finish, then approve numbered photos or video of the actual slabs or production before paying the balance.

  2. 02

    Agree Incoterms in writing

    FOB, CIF or DAP decides who pays and insures each leg. Most stone trades FOB or CIF; DAP and DDP shift customs work to the seller.

  3. 03

    Protect the payment

    A common structure is a 30% deposit and 70% against a copy of the bill of lading, or a letter of credit on large orders. Tie the balance to a passed inspection.

  4. 04

    Price the landed cost

    Ex-works price + packing + inland freight + ocean freight + insurance + duties and taxes + clearance + delivery. For stone, freight and duty can match the stone's price.

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors under open licences. Photo credits