Shipping stone from China isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Let me walk you through what actually works, based on what we’ve done hundreds of times.
Your Shipping Options, Explained Simply
Here’s the deal:
- Sea Freight – Your best bet for big orders. Yes, it takes 20-35 days. But you’ll save a ton. We pack everything into containers properly.
- Air Freight – Fast but pricey. Only makes sense for small samples or urgent orders.
- Express (DHL/FedEx) – Good for those stone samples you need to show clients.
Our rule of thumb: If it’s more than 1 cubic meter, go sea. Anything smaller, express is fine.
What You’ll Actually Pay
Shipping stone isn’t free. But it’s predictable:
- Sea freight: roughly $150-300 per cubic meter to major ports
- Air freight: $4-8 per kg depending on where you’re shipping
- Customs clearance: usually $100-200
Documents You Actually Need
Don’t stress about paperwork. We’ll handle most of this, but here’s what’s typically involved:
- Commercial Invoice (we prepare this)
- Packing List (we prepare this)
- Bill of Lading (B/L) – from the shipping company
- Certificate of Origin (for customs)
Pro Tips to Avoid Damage
- We use proper wooden crates with fumigation certificates (required for international shipping)
- Each slab gets wrapped in foam and cardboard
- Crates are marked “FRAGILE” in big letters
- Always get cargo insurance – it’s cheap and worth it
Ready to Ship?
Just send us your address and what you need. We’ll get you a quote that includes everything – shipping, insurance, and delivery to your port.
Questions? Drop us an email at info@primestoneworks.com
