A useful quotation for inorganic stone blocks should do more than state a material price. It should help buyers understand the block dimensions, where processing will take place, which costs are included and how the supply plan fits the project schedule.
In early discussions with international buyers, TRANS HILL Eco-Stone’s export team has repeatedly addressed block dimensions, pricing by tonne or cubic metre, container planning, project appearance and delivery responsibilities. Bringing these points into a request for quotation (RFQ) helps suppliers discuss a proposal that fits the project and gives procurement teams a clearer basis for comparison.
For importers, stone processors and project procurement teams, the following seven inputs are a practical starting point.
1. Project application and intended appearance
Explain where the material will be used and the appearance you want to achieve. Include the project country, application area, renderings or reference images, and proposed colour, pattern and surface finish.
If you have not selected a product, reference images can guide the initial discussion. Before confirming an order, relate the selected product to a physical sample and agreed appearance criteria, so the buyer, supplier and processor are working from the same reference.
2. Full block dimensions and finished-piece sizes
State all three block dimensions—length, width and height—with units. Two dimensions alone are not enough to establish the volume or plan a complete cutting layout.
Also provide a finished-piece schedule or drawings showing thickness, quantity, finish and any openings, edge details or shaped pieces. If dimensions are provisional, identify the drawing revision and outstanding items.
Block dimensions and finished-piece dimensions are different inputs. Bringing them together allows a discussion of cutting layout, saw kerf, offcuts and material yield, rather than just the price of a block.
If you are still choosing a supply format, see our guide to blocks, slabs and fabricated pieces.
3. Order quantity and pricing unit
State the expected quantity and whether the enquiry concerns a trial order, an initial shipment or the full project requirement. For phased orders, list the quantity for each shipment where possible.
For blocks, confirm whether the price is per tonne, per cubic metre or another agreed unit, and how weight or volume will be established. If the project budget is expressed per square metre, include the required thickness and piece schedule before discussing a conversion.
Block volume or weight is not the same as usable finished area without a cutting calculation. Include the cutting layout, saw kerf and processing requirements in that calculation, and retain the assumptions alongside the quotation.
4. Processing location and division of work
Explain who will cut and process the blocks after import, and whether a local processor has been selected. If so, share the block dimensions that the processor can handle, the required operations and any information needed from the supplier.
If you want some processing completed before shipment, list the operations, drawings and acceptance criteria. Ask the supplier to confirm the scope it can undertake and who will carry it out. Where a partner processor is involved, identify who approves drawings, checks the processed pieces and manages the packing handover.
A purchasing plan needs to connect material supply with downstream processing, not simply select a delivery format.
5. Destination and quotation scope
Provide the destination country and port, and clarify whether the requested price should cover delivery to a factory, a port or the final project address. If transport arrangements are not yet decided, ask for the scope of material, packing and transport costs to be stated separately.
TRANS HILL’s current quotation information describes a factory price excluding packing, with packing arranged according to freight requirements. Confirm the packing requirements and cost separately rather than treating the material price as a complete transport quotation.
When comparing proposals, also check the currency, validity period, delivery terms and excluded charges. Container planning should consider block dimensions, actual weight, packing and the weight restrictions for the specific route—not the container size alone.
6. Technical documents and acceptance criteria
Send the project’s required properties, document list and acceptance criteria in advance, identifying the relevant product and application. Where local project requirements apply, identify the specific documents or standards so the supplier can check whether its evidence covers them.
Include requirements for appearance, dimensional tolerances, finish, quantity and packing. If sample approval or pre-shipment inspection is needed, state who will approve or inspect the goods and at which stage.
This keeps the technical review and pricing discussion focused on the same product and project conditions.
7. Purchasing and arrival dates
Distinguish the expected order date, required cargo-ready date and required arrival date. A provisional date range is useful if the schedule is not yet final.
Production, processing, packing, container loading, vessel schedules and destination delivery are separate milestones. Discussing them separately helps buyers assess how the schedule fits together; a factory handover date should not be treated as a project arrival date.
A copy-ready RFQ checklist
| Item | Information to provide |
|---|---|
| Application and appearance | Project country, application area, reference images, colour and finish |
| Dimensions and drawings | Block length × width × height and units; piece sizes, thicknesses, quantities and drawing revision |
| Quantity and pricing | Trial or project order, phased quantities, pricing unit and method of confirming weight or volume |
| Processing responsibilities | Processing location, processor, operations, supply scope and inspection scope |
| Destination and costs | Destination port or address, delivery terms, currency, packing and freight scope |
| Documents and acceptance | Technical requirements, requested documents, sample approval and inspection points |
| Schedule | Expected order, cargo-ready and arrival dates, including phased deliveries |
If some information is not yet available, send what you have and clearly identify the outstanding items. This gives the initial discussion a basis that can be updated for a formal quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start an enquiry without final drawings?
Yes. Share the application, intended appearance, estimated quantity and destination for an initial discussion. Add the piece schedule and drawings when assessing a specific cutting layout, material yield or processing cost, and update the quotation conditions accordingly.
Can I compare blocks using a price per square metre?
You can discuss a converted cost per square metre, but use consistent thicknesses, cutting assumptions and processing scopes. Prices calculated on different assumptions are not directly comparable.
Is the factory handover date the final arrival date?
No. Packing, container loading, vessel schedules and destination delivery still need to be coordinated. State the factory readiness and arrival requirements separately in the enquiry.
Start with the project brief, not just the unit price
For inorganic stone block procurement, intended appearance, total cost and delivery arrangements belong in the same enquiry brief. A fuller brief moves the discussion towards practical decisions about dimensions, processing, costs and timing.
If you are planning a purchase, share your available drawings, intended appearance, estimated quantity and destination with the TRANS HILL Eco-Stone team to discuss block options, processing responsibilities and quotation scope.