Table of Contents
Marble imported from Brazil has become significantly more expensive in 2026, and the quartzite tariff Orlando story is more forgiving, though not completely untouched. If you are weighing the two materials for a kitchen or bathroom project in Orlando right now, the price math between them has genuinely shifted this year.
What Actually Changed
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) finalized a Section 301 action against Brazil on July 22, 2026, adding a 25% duty on imports of Brazilian granite, marble, and slate. The rule was first proposed on June 1, 2026, and finalized about seven weeks later. This is not a small footnote. Brazil is one of the largest exporters of natural marble and granite sold in the US, so this affects a real share of the slabs NaturaStone sources month after month, confirmed directly by Brazil’s own stone trade association.
Quartzite caught a partial break here, not a full one. That first action exempted the customs classification covering quartzite, Brazil’s top stone export to the US, from the 25% duty. But a second, separate Section 301 action took effect two days later, on July 24, 2026, covering roughly 60 countries including Brazil, and it added a 12.5% duty with no exemption list at all, as trade press reporting confirmed. The net result: Brazilian granite, marble, and slate now carry 37.5% in combined duties, while Brazilian quartzite carries 12.5%. Quartzite still got more expensive to import, just far less than marble and granite did.
A Word of Caution Before You Read Too Much Into This
This tariff does not apply to stone coming from other countries. It does not affect marble sold from Italy, Turkey, or anywhere else, so marble is not uniformly more expensive worldwide, only marble and granite from Brazil are. We are not going to sugarcoat that. Slabs from non-Brazilian quarries, such as Carrara, see no pricing impact from this rule at all. What it does mean is that Brazilian stone, which makes up a real share of the US market, just changed its relative price.
What This Means If You Are Deciding Between Marble and Quartzite
Quartzite has become even more appealing if budget is a factor at all. It is already the material we fabricate most often for Orlando clients, and for good reason: it is as hard as quartz, has real natural veining with no counterfeit look, and does not require the fragile maintenance marble demands. This tariff has no effect on how hard quartzite is or how it looks. It affects the price spread between the two materials, in quartzite’s favor.
But if you are set on a particular Brazilian marble, such as Calacatta or a dramatic veined slab, a tariff is not a reason to talk you out of it. We are always upfront about the price before you order.
What NaturaStone Is Seeing Right Now
This is not the first tariff fluctuation we have seen since 2014 on our projects in Orlando, where we have fabricated and installed stone surfaces on over 250 projects. What we always tell clients is simple: get your slab priced before you fall in love with it, not after. A quote today reflects today’s import market. A quote six months from now may not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tariff affect quartz countertops too?
No. Engineered quartz already has its own separate tariff, a safeguard duty that took effect August 15, 2026, and that is a completely different action from this one. The tariffs covered here apply only to natural stone, specifically granite, marble, and slate imported from Brazil.
Is all marble more expensive now?
No. Only marble from Brazil is affected. This ruling does not extend to marble from Italy or other countries.
Why was quartzite left out of the tariff?
Quartzite was left out of the first tariff action, the one that added 25% to granite, marble, and slate. That action’s exemption list included the customs classification covering quartzite, Brazil’s top stone export to the US, and the ruling did not explain why. A second, separate tariff action two days later did not give quartzite the same exemption, which is why quartzite still picked up a 12.5% duty overall.
Should I switch from marble to quartzite because of this?
Only if budget is a real concern in your decision. This tariff does not create a new case for quartzite. It was already known as a durable, attractive choice before this. If you want the specific look of Brazilian marble, the tariff by itself should not be the deciding factor.
How do I find out current pricing on a specific slab?
Get a free estimate from NaturaStone. Pricing is not a flat rate per material. It depends on the specific slab you choose and current import costs. For a full breakdown of what Orlando countertops cost by material, see our complete 2026 pricing guide.
Ready to compare quartzite and marble pricing for your Orlando project? Contact us today or schedule your appointment at NaturaStone in Orlando.
