International Trade

Exporting

Stone and mineral exports may need licences in the country of origin. Vendors are responsible for obtaining all export permits, mining licences, and trade authorisations before offering products for international sale on LithoPrime.

Importing

Buyers must meet the import rules of their destination country, which may include:

• Import licences or permits, and in some markets quotas or minimum import prices for certain stone
• Certificates of origin, to claim preferential duty rates
• Conformity marking where it applies, such as CE marking with a Declaration of Performance for stone covered by an EU harmonised standard
• Radioactivity (gamma) test reports, which some markets require for certain granites and other igneous stone
• Treated wooden crates and pallets (ISPM 15) and, for countries such as Australia and New Zealand, a packing declaration confirming the container and packaging are free of soil, seeds, and pests

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) covers listed animal and plant species, not minerals, so it rarely applies to stone. The main exception is coral: stony corals are listed in CITES Appendix II, so trade in coral rock needs CITES permits. Fossilised coral, as in most "coral stone" building tiles, is not covered, but customs may ask for evidence that it is fossil.

Separately, many countries restrict or ban the export of fossils, meteorites, and archaeological or heritage stone under their own cultural-property and environmental laws. Vendors trading these materials must comply with those laws.

Common Harmonized System (HS) headings for stone:

HS headings are shared worldwide to six digits; each country adds its own digits and duty rates, and Free Trade Agreements can lower them. Anti-dumping and countervailing duties may apply on top; the United States, for example, charges them on quartz surface products from China, India, and Turkey. Check the exact code and rate with your customs broker before you quote or buy.

You may not use LithoPrime to deal with people, companies, or countries in breach of sanctions administered by:

• the United Nations Security Council
• the European Union
• the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC)
• the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)

An international stone shipment typically needs:

Commercial invoice

Description, quantity, unit price, total value, and HS code

Packing list

Dimensions, weights, and the number of pieces, slabs, crates, or containers

Bill of lading (B/L)

Issued by the carrier; the title document for sea freight

Certificate of origin

Needed to claim preferential duty rates under trade agreements

Insurance certificate

Cover for marine or air transit

Test and quality certificates

Physical properties, dimensions, and finish

Fumigation or ISPM 15 certificate

When wooden crates or pallets are used

Agree delivery terms using the ICC's Incoterms 2020, and name the place or port after the term (for example, "FOB Chennai"). The ones you will meet most often in stone:

FOB and CIF are designed for goods loaded straight onto a vessel. For containers handed over at a terminal, the ICC recommends FCA or CIP instead, though FOB and CIF remain common in the stone trade.

Letter of credit (L/C)

Recommended for first orders and large orders. Banks guarantee payment against the agreed documents, which protects both sides.

Telegraphic transfer (T/T)

Common between established partners. A typical split is 30% in advance and 70% against a copy of the bill of lading.

Documentary collection (D/P, D/A)

Banks release the shipping documents against payment (D/P) or acceptance of a bill (D/A).

LithoPrime does not process payments between buyers and vendors.

Product standards buyers often specify:

• Environmental impact assessments for quarrying
• Waste and slurry management for cutting and processing
• Water use and discharge rules
• Rehabilitation of worked-out quarries
• Carbon footprint disclosure, where required

This page gives general information about international trade rules relevant to the stone industry. It is not legal, tax, or customs advice. Consult qualified legal and trade professionals about your own transactions, jurisdictions, and products. LithoPrime is not responsible for users' compliance with trade regulations.