Buying slabs from Foshan is straightforward once you know where the risk sits. This checklist is what we walk new importers through before their first container.
1. Verify the factory, not the trading company website
- Ask for the production line count, kiln length and daily output — a real sintered producer answers in numbers.
- Request a live video call walking the line, not a stock video.
- Check certificates by number with the issuing body: ISO 9001, CE, SGS test reports.
2. Confirm the HS code and duty before you order
Sintered stone is usually classified under ceramic slab headings, but classification varies by country and thickness. Ask your customs broker to confirm the code against a product spec sheet before the container ships — reclassification at the border is expensive.
3. Understand breakage risk and who carries it
Large-format slabs break in transit if packed badly. Standard protection: A-frame or vertical rack, foam interleaving, edge protection, strapping, and a container floor that is flat and dry.
- Agree in writing what happens to breakage above a stated percentage.
- Photograph the container at loading and at destination before unpacking — this is the only evidence that settles a claim.
- Marine insurance is cheap relative to the cargo; take it.
4. Inspect before it leaves, not after it arrives
A third-party inspection in Foshan costs a few hundred dollars and catches shade variation, chipped corners and wrong thickness before the container is sealed. Ask for:
- Shade comparison across all crates in the order
- Thickness and dimensional check on random slabs
- Photographs of every crate label
5. Payment terms
Standard factory-direct terms are 30% deposit with balance against the bill of lading copy. Terms are negotiable with repeat volume; a supplier who demands 100% upfront on a first order is telling you something about their cash position.
6. Lead time reality
Stock designs ship in 7–15 days. Custom or low-stock designs need production time, and the realistic door-to-door window including sea freight is 20–45 days for most destinations. Plan project dates from that, not from the production date.
7. Samples first
Never approve a design from a screen. Ask for a physical sample — a real 100×100 mm or larger piece, not a printed card — and check it under both daylight and warm interior light. Vein patterns read very differently under 3000K lighting.
8. Container maths
| Format | Approx. m² per 20ft | Approx. m² per 40ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1200×2400 × 9 mm | 700–800 | 1,500–1,700 |
| 1200×2700 × 9 mm | 650–750 | 1,400–1,600 |
| 1600×3200 × 12 mm | 420–500 | 900–1,050 |
Weight limits, not volume, usually cap the load at 12 mm and above.
9. What a good supplier asks you
If a factory quotes you without asking for destination port, thickness, total square metres and design selection, the number is a guess. Expect four questions before a real price.
MENGNA SURFACES ships from Foshan with no minimum order quantity, physical samples in 48 hours and a documented packing standard for every container.