When the United States put antidumping and countervailing duties past 300% on Chinese quartz surfaces, the industry didn't shrink — it relocated. Production shifted almost entirely to India, Turkey and Vietnam, and for a buyer today the practical choice among the alternatives usually comes down to two: India and Vietnam. Here's how they compare where it matters.

Tariffs & trade exposure

For the US market, neither India nor Vietnam has a free-trade agreement, so both enter as non-preferential origin at MFN plus the framework's reciprocal rate — a level playing field on the base tariff. The live variable is anti-dumping exposure: US authorities that acted on Chinese quartz have also scrutinised Indian quartz, so the trade-remedy picture is something to check per shipment for either origin. Vietnamese quartz has so far been a non-subject alternative, but "so far" is the operative phrase — verify current status before you commit volume.

For Europe, the UK, Australia and Japan, Vietnam has a structural edge: its FTA network (EVFTA, UKVFTA, AANZFTA, CPTPP) gives Vietnamese-origin goods 0% duty, which India generally doesn't match into those markets. If your destination is non-US, that's a real landed-cost difference.

Freight & logistics

Freight favours whichever origin is closer to your port. Vietnam's lanes to East Asia, Australia and the US West Coast are short and competitively priced; India is better placed for the Middle East and parts of Europe. Neither wins everywhere — match origin to destination rather than assuming one is cheaper to ship.

Capacity & the mixed-BOM factor

Both countries have serious quartz capacity. The difference for a construction buyer is what else is in the box. Vietnam produces quartz alongside the other five groups a project needs — tile, sanitary ware, aluminium & glass, wood and fiber cement — so a mixed BOM consolidates in one place and ships in one plan. Indian quartz is more often bought standalone, which is fine if quartz is all you need, and less efficient if it isn't.

The silica question applies to both

One thing origin does not change: engineered stone is 90–95% crystalline silica, and the worker-safety issue that led Australia to ban engineered-stone slabs sits downstream of the sale, in the fabrication shop — regardless of whether the slab came from India or Vietnam. Neither country restricts it. A responsible specification weighs lower-silica bodies and porcelain alternatives on their merits, whichever origin you choose.

The bottom line

  • US, quartz only, price-driven: compare both on live price and current anti-dumping status; it's close.
  • EU / UK / Australia / Japan: Vietnam's FTA 0% duty is a structural advantage.
  • A mixed construction BOM: Vietnam consolidates quartz with the five other groups you also need — one counterparty, one shipment.
  • Either way: weigh the silica question on the fabrication side.

Sources & data notes

The shift of quartz production to India, Turkey and Vietnam following US duties on Chinese quartz (past 300%), the FTA positions, and the engineered-stone health/regulatory context are drawn from 2024–2026 trade-remedy and industry reporting. Anti-dumping status, duty rates and FTA eligibility change and are product- and shipment-specific; confirm current figures with a customs broker before committing. Not legal or customs advice.

Sourcing quartz — or quartz plus the rest of a bathroom and facade package? Send us one BOM and we'll price the quartz on its own or consolidated with the other groups, duty-aware, within 48 hours. Our own fiber-cement line, DURAGREEN®, is one of the six.