Israel Marble Powder and Granule Importers - Bill of Lading Data

Israel maintains a steady demand for marble powder, granules, and micronized calcite, primarily driven by its construction, plastics, paints, and coatings industries. Under HS code 2517.41.00.00.00, which covers granules, chippings, and powder of marble, Israeli importers source specialized grades of calcium carbonate from international suppliers. The bill of lading records from January 2023 reveal a focused import pattern involving premium industrial mineral products, including branded formulations such as Omya Calcipur and Omyacarb, which are widely used as functional fillers in polymer processing, paper coating, and adhesive manufacturing.

The following table presents the complete bill of lading dataset for marble powder and granule shipments imported into Israel during the reporting period. Each record details the HS classification, product description, gross weight, and declared customs value, providing a clear view of the types and volumes of calcium carbonate products entering the Israeli market through official trade channels.

Product Shipment Analysis

The bill of lading data reveals five distinct product categories imported under the same HS classification, each serving different industrial applications. The product mix ranges from standard granule calcite used as a bulk filler material to highly specialized Omya-branded calcium carbonate grades engineered for precise particle size distribution and surface treatment. The following product cards provide a detailed breakdown of each shipment, including weight, declared value, and calculated unit price, enabling a comparative assessment of the value density across different calcium carbonate grades imported into Israel.

Shipment Summary

The five recorded shipments during January 2023 collectively account for 405.9 kilograms of marble-derived calcium carbonate products entering Israel. The total declared customs value across all shipments reached $24,154.94, reflecting the high value-added nature of processed and branded calcium carbonate grades. The unit price analysis reveals a dramatic spread from $0.05 per kilogram for standard granule calcite samples to $159.06 per kilogram for Omya Calcipur 110-KP, a specialized coating-grade precipitated calcium carbonate. This 3,181x price differential underscores the importance of product specification and brand premium in the Israeli calcium carbonate import market.

Market Intelligence: Calcium Carbonate Imports in Israel

Israel's industrial minerals sector relies heavily on imported calcium carbonate, particularly high-purity and surface-treated grades that are not commercially available from domestic quarries. The construction sector, which represents a significant share of Israel's GDP due to ongoing infrastructure development and urbanization, consumes large volumes of ground marble and limestone as aggregate extenders, plaster additives, and tile adhesive fillers. The plastics and polymer processing industry in Israel constitutes another major demand center, where micronized calcium carbonate serves as a cost-effective reinforcing filler in PVC pipes, profiles, and rigid packaging films.

The presence of Omya-branded products in the import records is particularly significant. Omya AG, headquartered in Switzerland, is the world's leading producer of ground calcium carbonate and a major supplier of precipitated calcium carbonate. The Calcipur and Omyacarb product lines identified in the Israeli B/L data represent premium industrial mineral grades engineered for specific applications: Calcipur grades are optimized for the paints and coatings industry as TiO2 extenders, while Omyacarb grades are designed for the polymer, sealant, and adhesive sectors. Their appearance in Israeli imports signals a sophisticated downstream manufacturing base that requires consistent particle size distribution, brightness, and surface chemistry control that only branded specialty minerals can provide.

HS Code Classification: 2517.41.00.00.00

The Harmonized System code 2517.41.00.00.00 falls under Chapter 25 of the Combined Nomenclature, which covers natural or artificial abrasive powders or grains. Specifically, this eight-digit subheading classifies granules, chippings, and powder of marble, regardless of whether the marble is naturally occurring or calcined. The product category encompasses all particle sizes of marble-derived material, from coarse granules used in construction aggregates to ultra-fine powders with controlled particle size distributions used in high-value industrial applications such as polymer reinforcement, paper coating, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Understanding this HS classification is critical for international trade compliance, as it determines the applicable customs duty rates, import licensing requirements, and statistical reporting obligations in the Israeli customs framework. Products under this heading are generally subject to standard most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rates in Israel, though preferential rates may apply under free trade agreements with supplier countries. Importers must also ensure compliance with Israeli standards for industrial mineral purity, particularly when the calcium carbonate is destined for food-contact, pharmaceutical, or child-safe product applications.

Frequently Asked Questions