Importing carved stone is not complicated, but it fails in predictable ways — and almost all of them are avoidable if you settle a few things before you pay a deposit.
This is written for buyers in the United States and Australia. It reflects how we actually ship.
Start with the incoterm, because it changes the price
Three terms cover almost every order we quote. They are not comparable prices.
| Incoterm | What it includes | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | The goods at our workshop. You arrange everything from there. | You already have a forwarder and a China agent |
| FOB (Free On Board) | The goods to the port, plus export clearance | You want control of freight and can handle import |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Everything to your door, duties included | Your first order, or you want a single landed number |
The mistake to avoid: comparing a DDP quote against an FOB quote. DDP includes international freight and duties; FOB does not. A DDP price will always look higher, and it is often the cheaper option once you add up what you would otherwise pay.
> If you are new to importing, ask for DDP first. It gives you one number you can plan a retail price around. Once you have done an order or two, FOB with your own forwarder usually becomes cheaper.
The volumetric-weight trap
This catches out almost every first-time importer of stone.
Carriers charge on actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is greater, where volumetric weight is generally:
`` length × width × height (cm) ÷ 5000 (express services) ``
Some services use 4000 or 6000 — always confirm which.
Carved stone is heavy, and once it is properly protected with foam and individual boxes it also becomes bulky. Orders frequently ship on volumetric weight rather than actual weight, which means a well-packed carton can cost more to move than its weight suggests.
What to do about it:
- Ask for carton dimensions and packed weight per carton before you agree a price — not just the product weight.
- Calculate chargeable weight yourself:
max(actual, volumetric). - Consolidate. Several partially filled cartons are more expensive than one full carton.
- If volumetric weight dominates, FOB with your own consolidation is often cheaper than express DDP.
Customs documentation
A normal export shipment travels with:
| Document | What it does |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | States value, quantity, description and the terms of sale |
| Packing list | Lists what is in each carton, with weights and dimensions |
| Certificate of origin | May be needed for preferential duty treatment — ask your broker |
| Bill of lading / airway bill | The transport document, issued by the carrier |
Ask your supplier to put the commercial invoice in the currency and format your broker expects, and to describe the goods specifically. A vague description like "stone samples" causes delays and sometimes revaluation by customs.
Duties and tariffs: check, do not assume
Two things are true here and both matter:
- Classification matters. Carved stone and gemstone articles do not all fall under the same tariff heading. Whether a piece lands under a heading for stone articles or for gemstones can change the rate. The classification is your customs broker's call, not your supplier's.
- Rates change. Tariff treatment for Chinese-origin goods into the United States has changed repeatedly in recent years. Any rate your supplier quotes you is likely to be out of date the moment it is written.
> We do not quote tariff rates. We will tell you the material, the value and the origin, and your broker applies the current rate. If a supplier gives you a confident duty figure without asking your broker, treat it with suspicion.
Protect against damage before it happens
Stone is brittle at edges, and there is no way to un-break a carving.
- Agree the packing specification in writing before production: protective wrap, individual box, void-filled export carton, crate for large pieces.
- Insure anything high-value. For one-off or large pieces, insurance is cheap relative to the loss.
- Inspect before signing where possible, and photograph any visible damage with the packaging still in place — carriers routinely require that for a claim.
- Agree the claim window up front. A common standard is notification within 7 days of delivery with photographs. Confirm it, because it varies.
A realistic timeline
Importing adds time to the production lead time, and the two are often confused.
`` production (quoted per order) + packing and documentation (days) + freight in transit (express: days · sea: 3–6 weeks) + customs clearance (days to a week) = arrival at your door ``
Ask for the production lead time and the transit time separately. A supplier who answers with one combined number is usually guessing at one of them.
The seven things to settle before you pay a deposit
- The incoterm you are quoting on, per line
- Carton dimensions and packed weight
- The exact packing specification
- Who is responsible for import clearance and duties
- The damage claim window and evidence required
- Production lead time and transit time, separately
- The material and treatment stated in writing
Get those in the quotation and most importing problems never happen.
Where we fit
We quote per order, on the incoterm you choose, with the carton dimensions and packed weight stated so you can check the freight maths yourself. Because our minimum is 10 pieces per order with designs and materials mixed freely, you can test importing with a small, low-risk shipment before committing to volume.
Send us your requirements and tell us your destination — we will quote the options.