Importing granite, engineered quartz or marble slabs from India? Start with the dedicated granite, quartz and marble guide: it has the HTS lines, the 2026 duty stack and the load ports. This page covers stone and minerals in general. Stone is heavy but chips easily, so most slabs ship in 20ft containers, standing on A-frames or L-frames, while tiles and countertops go in wooden crates. Most stone shipments from India reach US ports in 32–55 days port to port, based on our shipment data.
Overview
- Granite, quartz and marble slabs from India to the USA: HTS codes, 2026 duties, packing and ports
- US tariffs on India in 2026: every duty layer on Indian goods
Stone and mineral commodities are natural materials extracted from the earth: granite, marble, limestone, sandstone and industrial minerals. This guide covers shipping stone in general. For granite, engineered quartz and marble slabs from India to the USA, use the dedicated guide: it covers the HTS lines, the 2026 duty stack (the 10% Section 301 duty on Indian goods, and for quartz the antidumping and countervailing duty orders and the Section 201 quota), A-frame packing, the 20-foot weight rule, load ports and documents.
Major Stone Types
The type of stone, and how far it has been worked, decides its HS code, its packing and its container.
Granite
Durable igneous rock for countertops, flooring and monuments. Slabs from India: see the granite, quartz and marble guide.
Marble
Metamorphic rock prized for architecture and luxury finishes. Marble is quarried stone, outside the US duties on engineered quartz.
Limestone
Sedimentary rock for construction, cement production and agricultural lime.
Sandstone
Versatile sedimentary rock for building facades, paving and landscaping.
Shipping stone and minerals?
Get a quoteWhy Stone Is Hard to Ship
Stone is heavy, dense and fragile all at once. We plan every shipment around four factors.
Granite (about 2,700 kg/m³) and marble (about 2,650 kg/m³) are so dense that a container reaches its maximum payload (18–22 tons) long before it runs out of space.
We book most slab shipments in 20ft containers. In the US the road, not the box, sets the limit: the federal gross vehicle weight limit on the Interstate system is 80,000 lb, which leaves roughly 19 to 20 metric tons of cargo on a standard drayage move. 40ft containers only make sense for lighter worked articles.
Stone is hard, but polished surfaces, edges and corners chip, crack and break easily.
Pack for the product. Slabs stand upright, bundled on A-frames or L-frames. Tiles and countertops go in sturdy wooden crates. Edge guards and anti-slip dunnage keep the load from shifting.
Destination ports strictly enforce wood-packaging rules and product-specific regulations.
We check compliance before the shipment sails. Wood packaging (ISPM-15): all pallets, crates, A-frames and dunnage must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry the IPPC mark; the stone itself needs no fumigation. Quality inspection certificate: often required by buyers to verify grade. Some destinations add their own product rules; ask us for the market you ship to.
The stone's value and shape decide how it is handled.
We plan around your product. Raw blocks, polished slabs, tiles and sculptures each handle differently. Premium grades need the most care and are good candidates for 'All-Risk' marine insurance.
Documents for Stone Shipments
Every sea shipment needs the first three. The rest depend on your packing, destination and buyer.
| Document | Purpose | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Describes the goods, value and terms | All exports |
| Packing List | Itemizes the cargo with weights and dimensions | All exports |
| Bill of Lading | Contract of carriage | Sea shipments |
| Certificate of Origin | Proves the country of origin | Trade agreements and preferential tariffs; for the US, origin also decides Section 301, AD/CVD and safeguard duties |
| Wood Packaging Mark or Certificate | Shows wooden crates, pallets or A-frames were treated against pests | Only with wooden packaging; the US accepts the IPPC mark on the wood, some markets also ask for a certificate |
| Quarantine Clearance | Clears raw stone carrying soil or organic residue | Australia, New Zealand and some EU countries |
| Quality Certificate | Third-party inspection confirming grade and authenticity | High-value shipments or when the buyer asks |
Requirements by Destination
Each market adds its own rules on top of the standard documents.
- ISF (10+2) filed 24 hours before loading at the foreign port
- Formal entry and customs bond, filed through a licensed customs broker
- IPPC mark on all wood packaging (7 CFR 319.40-3)
- From India: 10% Section 301 duty; engineered quartz also pays AD/CVD deposits and the Section 201 safeguard
- CE marking for construction products covered by a harmonized standard
- ISPM-15 treatment and marking of wooden packaging
- Customs declaration and import duty under the EU tariff (TARIC)
- Certificate of origin (often legalized)
- Pre-shipment inspection for high-value orders
Shipping Routes & Transit Times
| Destination Region | Origin Ports (India) | Destination Ports | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Mundra, Visakhapatnam | Houston, Savannah, Norfolk, Long Beach, NY/NJ | 32–55 days port to port (P10–P90 from Airlift shipment data; West Coast arrivals trend shorter) |
| Middle East | Mumbai, Mundra, Chennai, Kochi | Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa (Abu Dhabi), Jeddah, Dammam | 7–12 days |
| Europe | Chennai, Mundra, Nhava Sheva | Antwerp, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Hamburg, Genoa | 22–30 days |
| Southeast Asia | Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata | Singapore, Port Klang, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Manila | 8–15 days |
For port-pair transit ranges and shipment planning, see the India to USA shipping lane. For slab load ports, packing and duty layers, see the granite and quartz slab guide. To get a quote, send us your packed unit weights and delivery location.
Shipping stone and minerals?
Get a quoteHS Codes for Stone and Minerals
Customs authorities worldwide classify goods with HS (Harmonized System) codes, which set the duty and the rules that apply. Stone falls into two chapters, depending on how much it has been processed.
Chapter 25: Raw and Roughly Shaped Stone
Natural stone in crude or roughly shaped form.
| HS Code | Description | Typical Products |
|---|---|---|
| 2515 | Marble, travertine, alabaster | Crude blocks, roughly trimmed stone |
| 2516 | Granite, porphyry, basalt, sandstone | Rough blocks, unpolished material |
| 2517 | Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone | Construction aggregates, decorative gravel |
| 2530 | Mineral substances | Vermiculite, perlite, natural graphite |
Chapter 68: Worked Stone Articles
Processed and finished stone, ready to use.
| HS Code | Description | Typical Products |
|---|---|---|
| 6801 | Setts, curbstones, flagstones | Paving stones, curbs, outdoor flooring |
| 6802.10 | Tiles, cubes and similar articles with the largest face under 7 cm | Mosaic cubes, small tiles, colored granules |
| 6802.21 | Marble, travertine, alabaster: simply cut or sawn, flat surface | Sawn marble slabs and tiles, not polished |
| 6802.23 | Granite: simply cut or sawn, flat surface | Sawn granite slabs, not polished |
| 6802.29 | Other stone, simply cut or sawn, flat surface | Processed sandstone, limestone products |
| 6802.91 | Marble, travertine, alabaster: worked further | Polished marble slabs, cut-to-size pieces, finished articles |
| 6802.93 | Granite: worked further | Polished granite slabs, countertops, monuments |
| 6803 | Worked slate and slate articles | Slate roofing, flooring, billiard tables |
These codes are indicative starting points, not a classification. Find the exact 10-digit line for your product in the HTS Code Finder. Getting the classification right is the importer of record’s legal responsibility.
These are 4- to 6-digit HS codes. Final classification and duty are set at the 8- to 10-digit national level (HTS in the US, ITC-HS in India, CN in the EU). Estimate US import duties for these codes with our free tariff simulator. From India, US entries of stone also pay the 10% Section 301 duty. Engineered quartz is not natural stone: it classifies under heading 6810 and, from India, carries AD/CVD cash deposits and the Section 201 safeguard quota. The granite, quartz and marble guide has the 10-digit US lines and the full duty stack.
- Raw or rough blocks → Chapter 25 (2515 for marble, 2516 for granite)
- Slabs only sawn flat → 6802.21 for marble, 6802.23 for granite
- Polished, honed or otherwise worked slabs and finished products → the 6802.9X series (6802.91 for marble, 6802.93 for granite)
- Engineered (agglomerated) quartz is not natural stone → heading 6810
- Countries extend HS codes to 8 or 10 digits at the national level to calculate duty
Official Tariff Lookups
- US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC)
- The official US customs classification database
- DGFT ITC (HS) Classification
- India's export-import classification codes
- EU TARIC Database
- The EU's customs tariff classification system
Stone Shipping FAQs
As checked September 23, 2026: granite slabs pay 3.7% and marble 1.9% to 4.9% by line, plus the 10% Section 301 duty on Indian goods. Engineered quartz pays no Column 1 duty but adds the 10%, antidumping and countervailing duty deposits, and a Section 201 safeguard of 25% in quota or 50% over quota. The granite, quartz and marble guide has the lines, dates and sources.
With several layers: plastic wrap against moisture, foam separators to cushion impacts, wooden crating for structural support, and anti-vibration mounts inside the container. Our handlers follow strict loading protocols to keep movement to a minimum in transit.
Incorrect or incomplete paperwork, most often a wrong HS code. How far the stone is worked changes the code: rough granite blocks are 2516, sawn granite slabs 6802.23 and polished granite 6802.93, for example. Errors can lead to inspections or penalties. We check the paperwork before your cargo ships, and the licensed customs broker confirms the classification on the entry.
You can ship both. Raw blocks that carry soil may face extra quarantine inspections in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Finished slabs generally clear customs faster.
Only the wood needs treatment, and for the United States the IPPC mark on the wood is what counts, not a certificate. Wooden crates, pallets and A-frames must be heat-treated or fumigated and marked under ISPM-15. The stone itself does not need fumigation.
It is strongly recommended. Stone is valuable and breaks easily. Marine cargo insurance covers loss or damage in transit, and we can arrange coverage matched to your shipment value.
Shipping terms in this guide:Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)DrayageDunnageCommercial InvoicePacking ListBill of Lading (BOL)
U.S. import duty on Stone & Mineral Commodities by country of origin
Total duty on the highest-value tariff lines in this category, by country of origin, calculated with our tariff engine and U.S. Census import values. Each page breaks down the duty components, how the rate has changed by entry date, and the landed-cost math.
Rates are our tariff engine's total for a commercial entry today. Open a page for the duty lines behind a rate and how it changed by entry date, browse all import duty pages, or price your own shipment.
Get a quote to ship stone and minerals
Tell us the product, where it ships from and to, and the container size or weight. We reply with the freight rate, the destination charges and the services included. The guide you were reading is already in the notes.