Stone / Granite

Stone (Stone / Granite) is a major category of common building and decorative materials in international trade, covering natural stone products such as granite, marble, slate, and limestone. In foreign trade contexts, this term usually appears in contract product names, invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and letter of credit descriptions to clarify the nature of the goods. Usage scenarios include: negotiating specifications with foreign buyers (such as thickness, surface finish, and dimensional tolerances), signing FOB/CIF contracts, customs declaration and inspection (HS codes are usually classified under Chapter 2515 or 6802), arranging ocean shipping (due to heavy weight, often shipped as breakbulk or full container), and handling quality disputes (such as color differences and cracks). Notes: First, Stone is a general term, while Granite refers only to granite, and they must not be used interchangeably, otherwise it may constitute documentary discrepancy; second, the reasonable range of color differences and defects in natural stone must be clearly defined to avoid claims; third, pay attention to the access requirements of different countries regarding radioactivity, environmental protection, and anti-dumping. The difference from artificial building materials such as Ceramic Tile is that stone is naturally quarried, specifications are not standardized, and it is usually priced by square meter or ton, while ceramic tiles are industrially produced and priced by piece or square meter.