Case Study: Exporting Labradorite Slabs from Ukraine to the USA

The task: A Ukrainian natural stone producer approached Ukrautologistic Group with a request to export labradorite slabs to the USA. Slabs are large-format stone panels that are transported upright in special wooden A-frame racks. The weight of a single container with this consignment came to 23 tonnes — well above the average for a standard 20-foot container.

The weight challenge: This is where the main difficulty lay. Poland strictly enforces road weight limits, and exceeding the permitted axle load means fines that can eat up the entire economics of a shipment. We offered the client a solution: for this specific cargo, we selected a lightweight container-carrier trailer. The trailer’s lower tare weight created headroom on the total mass of the road train, so the 23 tonnes of cargo fit within the permitted limits without any additional approvals or oversized-load permits.

The route: The container left Ukraine by road for Gdańsk — one of the key Baltic ports for container shipments on transatlantic routes. From there, the consignment went by sea directly to the port of destination in the USA. Loading took place in winter, at night, which added organizational complications: lighting, weather conditions, and checking that the slabs were secured in the container so the heavy panels wouldn’t shift during the sea crossing.

Result: The container of labradorite arrived in the USA with no damage to the slabs and without a single fine on the Polish leg. For the stone producer, it confirmed one thing: even heavy cargo that’s sensitive to transport can be shipped long-haul without unnecessary costs, provided the right vehicle is matched to the specific weight.