Importing stone directly is not complicated, but it has a specific sequence, and the people who find it difficult are almost always the ones who started in the wrong order — placing the order first and thinking about clearance afterwards.

This is the sequence that works, written for a US stone yard, fabricator or landscape supplier importing for the first time.

Step 1 — Appoint a customs broker before you order anything

This is the step most first-time importers skip, and skipping it causes most of the problems that follow.

A licensed customs broker handles your entry filing, advises on classification, arranges your bond, and tells you your actual landed duty cost before you commit money. That last point is the reason to appoint them first — you cannot build an accurate landed cost model without them, and a landed cost model built on assumptions is how importing stops looking cheaper than buying domestically.

Ask any broker you are considering whether they handle stone regularly. Classification and the practical realities of heavy cargo are not the same as for consumer goods.

Step 2 — Get your customs bond in place

You need a bond to import commercially.

Single-entry bond — covers one shipment. Appropriate for a genuine one-off.

Continuous bond — covers all your entries for a year. Usually more economical past a few shipments annually, and it removes a step from every subsequent order.

If you intend to import regularly, go continuous from the start. Your broker arranges it.

Step 3 — Confirm classification and duty

Natural stone classifies by type. The international HS codes are:

  • Marble — 2515.12
  • Granite — 2516.11
  • Sandstone — 2506.10
  • Limestone — 2521.00
  • Slate — 6803.00
  • Quartzite — 2506.20

Your broker applies the full US HTSUS subheading, which goes to more digits than the international code and depends on the specific product form — blocks, slabs, tiles, worked or unworked.

On duty rates: confirm the current rate for your specific classification with your broker before ordering. Rates change, and a figure published on a website — including this one — is not a substitute for current advice. Build the actual number into your model.

Step 4 — Place the order with a complete specification

The more precise your purchase order, the fewer surprises arrive in the container.

Specify:

  • Stone variety and grade
  • Finish
  • Thickness
  • Format and dimensions
  • Quantity in tonnes and pieces
  • Packing standard
  • Incoterms — FOB, CIF or otherwise
  • Discharge port
  • Whether slab photographs are required before shipment
  • Treatment disclosure — resin filling and any colour enhancement, in writing

Our minimum order is 20 metric tonnes, approximately one 20ft container. Processing runs 15 to 25 working days from order confirmation.

Step 5 — ISF 10+2 filing

Required for US ocean imports. It must be filed within the required window before the vessel loads at origin, and late filing carries penalties.

Your broker files it. What they need is accurate data from the shipping documents — supplier details, manufacturer, ship-to party, container stuffing location, consolidator, and the commodity classification.

The practical point: this happens before the vessel sails, so the information flow from your supplier to your broker needs to be prompt. Suppliers who are slow with documents create ISF problems.

Step 6 — The document set

Standard for every shipment:

  • Commercial invoice — accurate values and full description
  • Packing list — pieces, dimensions, weights per package
  • Bill of lading
  • Certificate of origin

Consistency across all four matters. Discrepancies between the invoice, packing list and bill of lading are among the most common triggers for inspection, and an inspection at a busy port costs days.

Step 7 — ISPM15 packaging compliance

All wooden packaging — crates, pallets, dunnage, bracing — must be heat-treated and carry the ISPM15 mark.

Non-compliant timber can result in the consignment being held, fumigated at your cost, or refused. This is checked, and it is entirely within the exporter’s control. Ask your supplier to confirm ISPM15 compliance in writing. We use compliant, marked timber on every shipment as standard.

Step 8 — Transit and port selection

Sea transit from Nhava Sheva or Kandla to US ports runs 21 to 30 days. East Coast is generally faster than West Coast.

Port options: New York/New Jersey for the Northeast, Savannah for the Southeast, Houston for Texas and the Gulf, Los Angeles or Long Beach for the West Coast.

Choose the port nearest your yard unless a clear rate or transit advantage elsewhere outweighs the inland trucking difference. On heavy cargo, inland trucking is a significant cost and it is frequently underestimated when comparing ports.

Step 9 — Clearance and delivery

Your broker files the entry. With complete, consistent documentation and correct classification, clearance is routine.

Then arrange drayage from the port to your yard. Note that free time at the port is limited, and demurrage and detention charges accrue quickly once it expires. Have the trucking arranged before the container lands, not after.

The realistic total timeline

  • Processing: 15 to 25 working days
  • Ocean transit: 21 to 30 days
  • Clearance: several days with clean documentation
  • Inland: variable

Total: eight to ten weeks from confirmed order to material on your racks.

Plan a forward ordering cycle around this. Reactive ordering — placing an order when stock runs low — means bridging an eight-to-ten-week gap with spot purchases from domestic wholesalers at a premium, which erases the reason for importing.

The mistakes that cost first-time importers the most

Ordering before appointing a broker. You do not know your landed cost and cannot make an informed decision.

Vague specifications. “First grade granite, 3 cm” leaves too much undefined. Be precise.

Not requesting slab photographs. On natural stone, this is your only real quality control at distance.

Underestimating inland trucking. On heavy cargo it is a material cost that changes port economics.

No drayage arranged before arrival. Demurrage accrues fast.

Assuming duty rates from an outdated source. Confirm currently, every time.

What we handle on our side

We ship from Nhava Sheva and Kandla and have exported to more than 40 countries since 2006. We provide the complete document set promptly so your broker can file the ISF on time, use ISPM15-compliant marked timber on every shipment, photograph allocated slabs before shipping, and state treatment status on the documentation.

Send us your variety, grade, thickness, finish, quantity and discharge port. We quote within 24 hours.

Note: US import requirements and duty rates change. Confirm current requirements with a licensed customs broker before ordering.

Planning your first container? Send us the specification and we will provide the documentation your broker needs, and a quote within 24 hours. Talk to our export team

FAQ's

frequently asked questions

Q What natural stones does Nirvan Exports supply?
A Nirvan Exports supplies five categories of natural stone: marble, granite, sandstone, slate, and limestone. Our marble range includes over 20 varieties such as Makrana White, Rainforest Green, Katni Beige, Fantasy Brown, and Spider Green. Our granite range includes Black Galaxy, Absolute Black, Colonial White, and 15+ additional varieties. We also supply Rajasthan sandstone in Buff, Pink, Teak, and Kandla Grey; natural slate tiles and slate veneer sheets; and limestone including Kota Stone, Fossil, Yellow, and Beige varieties.
A Our minimum order quantity (MOQ) for export is typically 20 metric tonnes per stone type, which equates to approximately one 20-foot container. However, we can accommodate smaller trial orders for new buyers — please contact us to discuss your specific requirements. For large projects requiring multiple containers or regular supply contracts, we offer priority processing and volume pricing.
A Nirvan Exports exports natural stone to over 40 countries worldwide. Our primary markets include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, and countries across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. We are experienced in the import regulations, documentation requirements, and logistics of all our major export markets.
A Lead time from order confirmation to shipment is typically 15 to 25 working days, depending on the stone type, finish, and order volume. Once shipped from Nhava Sheva port (Mumbai), standard transit times are 18 to 25 days to European ports, 21 to 30 days to USA and Canada, and 12 to 18 days to the UAE and Middle East. We provide tracking information for all shipments.
A Yes. All Nirvan Exports orders can be customised to your project specifications. We supply stone in standard slab sizes (typically 240 x 120 cm), standard tile formats (60 x 60 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 30 x 30 cm), or fully bespoke dimensions cut to your requirements. Available finishes include polished, honed, brushed, sandblasted, flamed, leather, and natural split. Please provide your specifications when requesting a quote.
A Yes. We strongly encourage new buyers to request samples before placing a bulk order. Sample pieces (typically 10 x 10 cm or 20 x 20 cm) are available for most stone varieties in our range. Sample charges and shipping costs apply, which are refundable against your first order. To request samples, contact us with the stone variety, finish, and your delivery address.
A All Nirvan Exports shipments use export-grade wooden crates with foam padding, waterproof wrapping, and heavy-duty strapping. Marble slabs are packed back-to-back with foam separators to prevent surface damage in transit. Slate veneer sheets and fragile stone products receive individual protective wrapping. Our packaging complies with international maritime freight standards and is designed to withstand multi-port transshipment.
A Nirvan Exports is a natural stone supplier and exporter — not a stone manufacturer. Natural stone is quarried from the earth, not manufactured. We own and operate quarry partnerships in Udaipur, Rajasthan and work with established quarry owners across India’s major stone regions. We handle the full supply chain from quarry sourcing through to stone processing, quality control, packaging, and international export.
A Nirvan Exports provides a full set of export documentation with every shipment, including: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate (where required), and quality inspection report. We are experienced with documentation requirements for all our major export markets including the USA, UK, EU countries, Australia, and the Middle East.
A To receive a quotation, contact Nirvan Exports with the following details: stone type and variety, quantity required (in metric tonnes or square metres), finish required, slab or tile format and size, and your delivery port or country. We respond to all enquiries within 48 hours with a detailed price quotation and, where relevant, availability of samples.
Do I need a customs broker to import stone into the USA?

Both come from the same stone family. Fantasy Brown generally runs warmer with more brown and taupe; Toronto Fantasy Brown generally runs cooler and greyer with higher-contrast banding. These are commercial trade names, so usage varies between suppliers — specify tone and contrast rather than relying on the name.

For light-use surfaces such as serving islands, yes. For a heavily used worktop with regular acid exposure from citrus, vinegar and tomato, specify quartzite or granite instead — Fantasy Brown is a carbonate stone and will etch.

For light-use surfaces such as serving islands, yes. For a heavily used worktop with regular acid exposure from citrus, vinegar and tomato, specify quartzite or granite instead — Fantasy Brown is a carbonate stone and will etch.

Yes, and it is one of the better stones for it given the strong directional banding. Specify bookmatching at order stage so slabs are selected, cut, numbered and packed in sequence.

Yes, noticeably. It resists scratching better than most marbles and holds its finish well. It still etches under acids as all carbonate stones do.

Request full-slab photographs of the material allocated to your order. Sample tiles cannot represent a stone whose pattern operates at slab scale.