From February 22 to 28, 2026, the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (SFA) hosted its “Introduction to Importing Workshop” in Brazil, giving a group of six fabricators from the U.S. an immersive look into the global natural stone supply chain. The week-long experience took place in the renowned stone region of Cachoeiro, where attendees explored every step of the process that transforms raw stone into the finished slabs seen in showrooms and fabrication shops around the world. Designed specifically for fabricators interested in importing their own material, the workshop provided real-world, hands-on insight into how stone moves from the ground in Brazil to fabrication shops across North America.

In total, the group visited 11 different factories along with several quarries, allowing participants to see the full lifecycle of stone production. Some of the companies visited include Stock Rock, Pedras São João, Granforte, Naturale, CS3 and UNQ. Attendees learned how blocks are extracted from quarries, how they are transported to factories and how those blocks are processed into slabs ready for export. From cutting and polishing to packaging and international shipping, the workshop showed fabricators exactly how stone makes the journey from quarry to slab to their own warehouse. Just as importantly, participants had the opportunity to tour the factories, inspect materials and begin building the relationships necessary to import stone directly for their businesses.