How do you import marble and natural stone from Turkey?

Start with a written specification

Before you ask for prices, write down what you are buying. Without this, quotes cannot be compared, and disputes have nothing to refer to.

• Stone name, and the origin if it matters to your customer
• Finish, such as polished, honed, tumbled or brushed
• Size, thickness and edge detail
• Total quantity in square metres, plus an allowance for cutting and breakage
• The acceptable colour and veining range

Check who you are buying from

Ask whether the company produces the stone itself or sources it from other producers. Both can work, but you should know which. A producer controls cutting and finishing directly, while a trader may offer a wider range.

Ask for recent project references and for photos or video of the facility, and visit if the order justifies it. Confirm the legal company name, and make sure it matches the name on the invoice and on the bank account.

Approve samples and agree the colour range

Natural stone varies from block to block, so one sample shows a point in a range, not the whole order. Ask for several pieces that show the variation you should expect, and keep an approved set as your reference. For large orders, ask for photos of the actual material before it is packed.

Choose a delivery term

The delivery term decides who pays for each stage and when the risk passes to you. The four below are the ones you are most likely to meet. Always name the place, for example FOB Izmir, and state the Incoterms version.

FOB gives you control of the freight, but you need a forwarder. CIF is simpler for a first order, but under CIF the risk still passes at the port of loading, so check what the insurance covers. The ICC notes that FOB and CIF are not designed for goods handed over at a container terminal, and that FCA and CIP suit containerised cargo better. Ask your forwarder which term fits your shipment.

Agree payment before production

A common structure is a deposit before production and the balance before shipment or against shipping documents. Larger orders may use a letter of credit, which costs more but gives both sides more protection. Put the payment stages and the production schedule in the contract.

Treat any change of bank details as a warning sign. Confirm it by phone, using a number you already hold, before you send money.

Plan packing and container loading

Stone is heavy, so a container usually reaches its weight limit before it is full. Ask for the weight of each crate and for a packing list before booking, and check the road weight limits at your destination.

Wooden crates and pallets for international shipment generally have to meet the ISPM 15 standard, which means treated wood carrying the official mark. Ask your supplier to confirm this, because non-compliant packaging can be held at the border.

Inspect before loading

Check the order before it leaves the factory, not after it arrives. Ask for photos of the crates, a count against the packing list and a check of sizes and finish. On large orders, consider an independent inspector. Problems are far cheaper to fix at the factory than at your warehouse.

Prepare customs and documents

Speak to a customs broker in your country before you place the order. Duty rates and import rules change, so confirm them for your country at the time of ordering.

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list with weights
• Bill of lading
• Certificate of origin, or another origin document if your broker asks for one

Worked building stone generally falls under HS heading 6802, but the exact code depends on the product, so have your broker confirm it. In the United States, ocean shipments need an Importer Security Filing before loading. In the EU, ask your broker whether an A.TR movement certificate applies. Construction products placed on the EU market may also need CE marking and a declaration of performance, so check what applies to your product.

Work out the landed cost

The price of the stone is only part of what you pay. Compare suppliers on landed cost, which means the full cost of the goods at your warehouse.

• Stone, including finishing and any special cutting
• Crates, pallets and packing
• Transport from the factory to the port
• Ocean freight and insurance
• Customs duty, import taxes and broker fees
• Destination port charges and delivery to your warehouse
• An allowance for breakage and for material you cannot use

Working with General Stone World

We are a natural stone manufacturer in Denizli, and we work on wholesale and project orders. Send us your specification, total quantity and destination through our contact page, and we will quote to your requirements.

You can see the kind of work we produce on our travertine from Turkey page.

For marble tiles and mosaics, see marble from Turkey.