Sourcing rough diorite blocks from China

Duty and waste controls for rough diorite

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 2516 covers monumental or building stone that is crude, roughly trimmed or merely cut into rectangular blocks or slabs. For rough diorite, check the other monumental or building stone line, 2516 90 00 00. The table shows block forms within that same line, rather than separate tariff lines.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches both import and export waste controls. Ask your customs broker whether the China shipment is waste and which procedure applies. Where notification controls apply, waste cannot ship until the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit have consented.

Confirm the commodity code using the stone description, photographs and processing details. Polished, flamed or otherwise worked stone moves to heading 6802, as explained in the published stone guide. For the wider heading, see the rough gabbro blocks guide.

Specify quarry identity and usable block size

Specify diorite by its geological description as well as the supplier's trade name. Record the quarry and extraction area, approved colour and grain range, and intended cutting direction. Ask for representative samples and photographs of wet and dry block faces.

Agree minimum usable dimensions after damaged edges are removed, acceptable taper and squareness, and rejection criteria for open cracks, veins and weathered areas. Specify whether blocks are crude, roughly trimmed or merely sawn. Request density, absorption and strength reports tied to the proposed quarry material; include frost resistance where relevant to the intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative shipment of 25 tonnes of rough diorite blocks; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 2516 90 00 00, invoiced at £11,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,400, so it is £2,680. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: check block markings and quarry records against the approved sample and shipment list.

Dimensions: measure usable length, width and height, allowing for chipped corners, taper and material that must be cut away.

Condition: examine accessible faces wet and dry for cracks, veins, rust staining and changes in grain or colour; photograph arrival damage before processing.

Loading: check block support, separation and restraint before dispatch, then compare arrival condition with loading photographs. Use an agreed inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A sample can match the requested colour while the shipment comes from a different quarry area. Hidden fractures reduce usable yield after sawing, and irregular blocks may meet overall dimensions but leave too little sound material for the planned cuts. Agree acceptance against usable stone, with traceable block photographs.

Loose restraint and unsuitable support can damage corners or allow blocks to move during transport. Investigate quarry identity and extraction practices through factory verification, and record discrepancies before the blocks are cut or mixed with other stock.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.