Metals & Alloys
Steel and aluminum coil, billet, plate, and bar, along with copper and other non-ferrous metals, moved as containerized, breakbulk, or bulk cargo depending on form and volume.
Industrial Logistics Solutions.
We specialize in logistics built around the realities of raw material transport, whether that is metals, chemicals, lumber, or minerals, so your production line never waits on a shipment.
We specialize in logistics solutions designed to meet the demands of raw material transport, whether it's metals, chemicals, lumber, or minerals. Our team ensures safe handling, regulatory compliance, and efficient delivery to keep your manufacturing and production lines running without interruption. With expertise in bulk shipments, specialized equipment, and time-sensitive scheduling, we help you minimize delays, reduce costs, and maintain a steady flow of essential materials from origin to operation.
Origin to plant floorOne licensed partner, every mode
The Raw Materials We Move.
From coiled steel to bulk chemical liquids, the categories of raw material cargo we handle regularly, and the equipment each one calls for.
Industrial Chemicals
Bulk liquid and dry chemicals in ISO tanks, drums, totes, and hopper cars, handled with the documentation and, where applicable, hazardous materials protocols each shipment requires.
Lumber & Forest Products
Dimensional lumber, panel products, and raw timber, often high-cube and weight-sensitive freight that needs the right container or flatbed configuration to move economically.
Minerals, Ores & Aggregates
Bulk minerals, ores, sand, clay, and aggregate materials, typically vessel or barge cargo at origin and rail or truck for inland distribution.
Plastics & Resins
Pelletized and powdered resins in bulk containers, super sacks, or hopper cars, feeding manufacturing lines that cannot afford a gap in supply.
Bulk & Breakbulk Commodities
Where a raw material does not fit a standard container, we arrange the bulk vessel space, breakbulk stowage, or specialized equipment the cargo actually needs.
The Compliance Load on Metals & Chemicals, Handled.
Raw materials carry real tariff and trade-compliance exposure, particularly on metals and certain chemicals. As a licensed customs broker, we manage it as a standing part of the shipment, not an afterthought.
Section 232
Steel & Aluminum Tariff Actions
Tariff and quota actions issued under Section 232 apply broadly to steel and aluminum articles, layered on top of standard duty and tied to specific product and country scope.
How we help: confirm whether your material falls within an active Section 232 action, apply available product exclusions, and file entries at the correct rate.
Antidumping / CVD
AD/CVD Orders on Metals & Chemicals
Antidumping and countervailing duty orders cover a long, specific list of steel, aluminum, and chemical products by product and country, often adding substantial duty on top of the base tariff.
How we help: check every raw material shipment against current AD/CVD scope, identify the applicable case, and post accurate cash deposits at entry.
Classification
HTS Classification for Alloys & Formulations
Duty treatment for raw materials often turns on precise alloy composition, chemical formulation, or processing stage, distinctions that are easy to misclassify and expensive to get wrong.
How we help: classify each grade and formulation correctly, document the basis, and pursue binding rulings when the classification is close.
Duty deferral
Foreign-Trade Zones & Duty Drawback
Raw material that lands, gets processed domestically, and is later re-exported as a finished good can carry duty twice unless the program is set up correctly.
How we help: advise whether an FTZ or a duty drawback claim fits your operation, then manage the admissions, entries, or drawback filing that make it pay off.
This page is general information, not legal, tax, or customs advice; trade measures change and vary by product, origin, and destination, so we verify the rules in force on each shipment.
One Partner, From Origin to Plant Floor.
Every link in the raw material supply chain, coordinated by one team so a delay at any single step does not stall your production line.
Ocean & Bulk Forwarding
Containerized, breakbulk, and bulk vessel space booked and coordinated from the origin mill or supplier to the Port of Virginia or your port of choice.
Customs Brokerage & Classification
Entry filing, HTS classification, and Section 232 and AD/CVD scope determinations, handled by a licensed customs broker before your material reaches the dock.
Warehousing & Transloading
Storage and transloading near the terminal, including bonded and FTZ options, so raw material is staged and ready when your production schedule calls for it.
Inland Transportation
Rail, drayage, and truck moves sized to the cargo, from bulk hopper cars to flatbeds for oversized lumber and metal loads.
Foreign-Trade Zone & Duty Deferral
FTZ admission and duty drawback support for raw materials that are processed domestically and later re-exported as finished goods.
Project Cargo
Oversized coils, structural steel, and other heavy-lift raw material shipments handled with the equipment, permits, and route planning project cargo requires. Explore project cargo
Why Manufacturers Choose W.M. Stone.
The risks in raw material logistics are cost, compliance, and continuity. We are built to manage all three.
Licensed Customs Expertise
As a licensed U.S. customs broker and freight forwarder, the same team that books your freight also clears it, so nothing gets lost between booking and border.
Built for Continuous Supply
Manufacturing and production lines depend on a steady flow of raw material. We schedule and track shipments to protect that continuity, not just to move a single box.
Compliance-First on Metals & Chemicals
Section 232, AD/CVD, and classification exposure on raw materials is real and ongoing. We handle it as a standing part of the account, not a one-time question.
One Point of Contact
A dedicated team owns your raw material freight from origin to plant floor, so you are not chasing updates across multiple vendors.
Raw Material Import FAQs.
The questions manufacturers and distributors ask us most before moving metals, chemicals, lumber, and minerals into the U.S.
Do steel and aluminum imports carry additional tariffs beyond the standard duty rate?
Many steel and aluminum products are subject to Section 232 tariff actions on top of the base tariff, and the scope and rate depend on the specific product and its country of origin. We confirm whether your material falls within an active action and file entries at the correct rate.
Are antidumping and countervailing duty orders common on raw materials?
Yes. Steel, aluminum, and a range of industrial chemicals are covered by numerous AD/CVD orders naming specific products and countries, often adding substantial duty on top of the base tariff. We check every shipment against current scope before it moves.
How do you handle bulk or hazardous chemical shipments?
Bulk liquid and dry chemicals move in ISO tanks, drums, totes, or hopper cars, and where a chemical is a regulated hazardous material, the shipment is handled under the applicable hazardous materials protocols alongside standard customs and freight documentation.
Can duty drawback help if I import raw material and later export the finished product?
Often, yes. Duty drawback allows a refund of certain duties paid on imported material that is later exported, including after domestic processing. We advise whether your operation qualifies and manage the claim.
What is the benefit of a Foreign-Trade Zone for a raw material importer?
An FTZ is treated as outside U.S. customs territory, so duty on material admitted to the zone is deferred until it enters U.S. commerce. For high-volume metals and chemicals, that can meaningfully improve cash flow.
How do you move oversized lumber, steel coil, or other heavy raw material loads?
Those moves are handled as project cargo, with the flatbeds, permits, and route planning that oversized or overweight raw material freight requires. See our project cargo capabilities for the heavy end of the work.
Credentialed to Move Your Raw Materials.
Here to Keep Your Supply of Raw Materials Moving.
Tell us what you're importing, the form it takes, and when your production line needs it. We'll handle the classification, the compliance, and the move from origin to plant floor.